C^      A-3 


NO CLASS 

THIS  IS  THE  PROPERTY  OF 

ALFRED  E.  P.  ROCKWELL,  M.D. 

OF    WORCESTER    AND   SHREWSBURY.    MASS. 

BY  RETURNING  AT  AN  EARLY 
DAY.  THE  BORROWER  WILL  CONFER 
A   FAVOR    UPON  THE   OWNER. 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veterinarv  Mecticine  at 
Tufts  University 
200Westbon^f)-  ' 

North  Graiuur.  a't' 


TUFTS   UNIVERSITY   LIBRARIES 


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JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


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PRACTICAL  TREATISE 


ON  THE  MOST  OBVIOUS 


DISEASES  PECULIAR  TO  HORSES, 


TOGETHER  WITH   DIRKCTIONS   FOE 


THEIR  MOST  RATIONAL  TREATMENT; 


CONTAINING,    ALSO, 


SOME   VALUABLE    INFORMATION"   ON   THE    ART   OF 
SHOEING   HORSES. 


BY  GEORGE  H.  DADD,  Y.  S., 

Author  of  "Anatomy  and  Physiology  of  the  Horse,"  "Modern  Horse  Doctor,"  etc.,  etc.,  and 
Principal  of'the  Veterinary  School  of  Chicago, 


CHICAGO: 
PUBLISHED   BY   LORD    &   SMITH. 

S.  C.  G-RIGJ-CS^S  &  CO. 

NEW  YORK: 

BLAKEMAN  &  MASON;  C.  M.  SAXTON. 

18  6  3. 


SP 


Entered  accordino  to  thb  Act  op  Congress,  in  the  year  1S03,  bt 

GJ-Eo.  Hi.  r>Ar>r>,  at.  s.. 

In  thb  Clerk'3  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  foe  tub 
Northern  District  of  Illinois. 


tribune   company, 

BOOK    &    JOB   PKINTERS, 

oni o aoo. 

Ltman  &  Zeese,  Stereotypers,  47  Clark  rtreet,  Chicago. 


PREFACE, 


The  object  of  the  author  in  preparing  this  work,  is  to  meet  a  great 
emergency,  which  all  persons  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  Horse, 
acknowledge  to  exist. 

For  example,  many  works  on  the  treatment  of  equine  affections 
are  too  voluminous  for  practical  use  among  those,  who,  from  sheer 
necessity,  are  compelled  to  try  their  skill  as  amateur  physicians,  in 
view  of  restoring  to  usefulness  a  sick  or  disabled  animal. 

I  find  that  in  the  hour  of  need,  or  when  a  horse  is  suddenly  at- 
tacked with  a  dangerous  malady,  and  appears  to  suffer  tormenting 
pains,  and  no  surgeon  at  hand,  humanity  prompts  the  owner  to  seek 
for  some  information  that  may  enable  him  to  prevent  the  destruction 
of  his  property ;  under  such  circumstances  he  cannot  spare  the  time 
to  sit  down  and  read  a  lengthy  ai'ticle;  his  object  is  to  ascertain, 
without  delay ^  the  nature  of  the  disease  and  its  treatment. 

Since  the  commencement  of  our  present  national  troubles,  the 
spread  of  disease  is  alarmingly  on  the  increase,  from  the  fact  that 
thousands  of  diseased  animals  have  been  disposed  of  and  distributed 
all  over  the  country,  carrying  with  them  the  propagating  germs  of 
infection  ;  and  many  of  these  animals  have  proved  a  sore  pest,  and 
dear  purchases,  although  they  may  have  cost  but  a  trifle.  In  the 
same  ratio,  therefore,  as  disease  multiplies,  so  also  will  be  the  desire 


IV  PREFACE 

foi"  practical  information  on  the  naturo  of  the  same.  For  these,  and 
other  reasons  which  might  be  alluded  to,  there  exists  a  necessity  for 
a  work  of  this  kind. 

In  the  composition  of  the  work  I  have  endeavored  to  be  as  brief 
and  practical  as  possible.  I  have  also,  for  the  reader's  instruction, 
introduced  a  number  of  cases  which  have  occurred  in  my  own 
practice,  which  may  aid  the  practitioner  in  treating  others. 

GEO.  H.  DADD,  V.  S. 


CONTENTS. 


PAQB 

Alxlominal  Dropsy 13 

Anatomy  of  the  Tail 27 

Aphthae 38 

Epizootic 38 

Apoplexy,  Cerebral 43 

Splenic 55 

Acute  Rheumatism 71 

Albuminous  Urine 97 

Antidote  for  the  Bite  or  Sting  of  Venomous  Reptiles 99 

Arsenic,  Poisoning  by Ill 

Age  of  Horses 124 

"  American  Magnetic  Equine  Powders  " 142 

"American  Magnetic  Equine  Liniment " 142 

"  American  Magnetic  Equine  Lotion  " 142 

Brain,  Inflammation  of 21 

Blindness 35 

Bronchocele , ,  41 

Bruise  of  the  Sole 41 

Big  Head  and  Big  Ja,w 46 

Brain,  Dropsy  of 54 

Breach  Presentation 57 

Bots 69 

Chronic  Founder 14 

Capped  Hock 15 

Elbow 15 

Cramp  or  Spasm 20 

Cough,  Chronic 28 

Colic,  Spasmodic 89 

Flatulent 40 

Corns 42 

Cribbing  or  Crib-Biting 43 

Cerebral  Apoplexy 43 

Canker  in  the  Feet 58 

Chronic  Rheumatism 75 

Carrots,  Value  of 100 

Castration,  Mode  of  Performing 104 

Cholera 110 

Cut  of  Patent  Horse  Shoe    125 

Cracks,  Quarter 134 

Cavalry  Horses,  Shoeing  of 137 

Dropsy,  Abdominal 13 

Distemper 16 

Dilatation  of  the  Pupil 32 

Dropsy  of  the  Brain 54 

Disease  of  the  Skin — Mange — Lousiness — Remedy  for  same 68 

Derangement  of  the  Stomach 71 

Diabetes,  or  Profuse  Discharge  of  Urine 97 

Disease,  Navicular 98 

of  the  Liver 101 


VI  CONTENTS. 

PAGB 

Division  of  the  Flexor  Tendons 106 

Description  of  the  Heart  of  the  Horse 107 

Diptheria 114 

Elbow,  Capped 15 

Excoriated  Mouth  from  sharp  teeth ,  ...  37 

Enlargement  of  the  Spleen 45 

Embryotomy 56 

Endurance  of  Horses 99 

Exerc'se  daily  needed 99 

Erysipelas 120 

Essay  on  Shoeing  Horses 125 

Founder 14 

Chronic  ....    14 

Foot,  Pumiced 15 

Punctured ,    ....  15 

Fevers,  their  Treatment 19 

Fistulous  Withers 29 

Flatulent  Colic 40 

Feet,  Canker  in  the 58 

Farcy 87 

Flies  and  Insects,  to  Protect  Animals  from 98 

Fetlock,  Sprain  of    99 

Flexor  Tendons,  Division  of 106 

Fistula  of  Parotid  Duct 106 

Fungus  Hajma'odes  of  the  Penis 112 

Frog,  iti  Function,  &c 130 

must  have  Pressure     137 

Grease 22 

Gutta  Serena S2 

Galled  Back,  its  Treatment Gl 

Glanders,  Cau?e  of,  &c 82 

Hock,  Capped 15 

Hernia,  Scrotal,  Reduction  of ■ 18 

Head,  Bip; • 46 

Umbilical 58 

Herpes,  or  Disease  of  the  Skin  , 77 

Hasmaturi.n,  or  Bloody  Urine 96 

Horses,  Endur.Tnce  of 99 

should  be  Exercised  daily 93 

Muscular  Pain,  to  relieve 100 

Heart  of  the  Horse,  description  of 107 

Horsrs,  Age  of 124 

Horse  Shoes  should  be  beveled  on  the  ground  surface I'iG 

Hot  Shoes,  Remarks  on 131 

Hoofs,  Mechanism  of 136 

Horse  and  Cittlc  Medicines 14'i 

Importance  of  Vcntiliting  Stables 9 

Inflammation  of  the  Stomach 13 

Influenza , 16 

Inflamtnation  of  the  Brain 21 

Lungs ol 

Eye 86 

Lining  Membrane  of  the  Larynx G6 

Indigestion 71 

Inflammation  of  the  Kidneys 90 

Impiovod  Horse  Shoe,  Cut  of 125 

Jaw,  Big 46 

Jaundice     102 

Kidneys,  Inflammation  of 96 

Lcg^,  Swollen 15 

Lungs,  Inflammation  of <"'  1 

Lampas ^^7 

Lociii  d  Jaw,  or  Tetanus "1 

Lymphatitis .*'. '. 59 


CONTENTS.  VU 

PAOB 

Laryngitis CO 

Lousiness gg 

Light  in  Stables 82 

Liver,  Structure  and  Functions  of Iqj 

*'  Lotion,  American  Magnetic" , 142 

"  Liniment,  American  Magnetic" 142 

Megrims 21 

MyalgiM,  or  Muscular  Pain 24 

Mouth,  Sore 37 

Excoriated 37 

Thrush  of 38 

Muscles,  Wasting  of gg 

Mange 68 

Muscular  Pain,  to  Relieve IPQ 

Mode  of  Performing  Operations I03 

Mouth,  Picasoiis  why  llorscs  do  not  Breathe  through  the 109 

Mechanism  of  Hoofs I35 

Nicking  Horses 26 

Nitrate  of  Potass,  its  Action , 73 

Navicular  Disease 98 

Neurotomy,  Operation  for 105 

Ophthalmia 3g 

Over-Distension  of  the  Stomach • 62 

Operations,  Modes  of  Performing 103 

for  Castration 104 

Stone  in  the  Bladder IO5 

Tracheotomy 105 

ffisophagotomy , 105 

Neurotomy 105 

Division  of  Flexor  Tendons ...    106 

Am  urism 106 

Fistula  of  the  Parotid  Duct 106 

On  the  Nervous  Sys  em  of  the  Horse 1 20 

On  the  Treatment  of  Disease 122 

Pumiced  Foot 15 

Punctured  Foot 15 

Pricking  Horses 26 

Pupil,  Dilatation  of 32 

Paralysis  in  Mares  during  the  period  of  "  Heat,  "  or  Menstruation Js3 

Patella,  Luxation  of 33 

Pneumonia,  Typhoid 53 

Pleurisy 07 

Pityriasis  in  Army  Horses  69 

Pain,  Muscular,  to  Relieve, 100 

Parotid  Duct,  Operation  for  Fistula  of 106 

Patate,  or  Bars,  Use  of 109 

Structure  of , 1 1 0 

Plethora 110 

Poisoning  by  Arsenic Ill 

Penis,  Fungus  of 112 

Patent  Horse  Shoe,  Cut  of 125 

Pressure  on  the  Frog,  Need  of 137 

"  Powders,  American  Mngneiic" 142 

Quarter  Cracks,  Remedy  for 134 

Remarks  on  ¥■  terinary  Science,  and  the  Relation  it  bears  to  Social  Science. . .  11 

Reduction  of  S.Total  Hernia 18 

Ringbone,  its  Nature,  Cause  and  Treatracsit 60 

Rheumatism,  Actite 71 

Chronic 75 

Reasons  v/hy  Horses  do  not  Breathe  through  their  Mouths 109 

Rot 110 

R-iaring  in  Horses 118 

Rules  fjr  Shoeing  Horses 125 

Remarks  on  the  Frog ISO 


Vlll  CONTENTS 

PAGB 

Remarks  on  the  Application  of  Hot  Shoeg 131 

Stables,  Importance  of  VentilatinjT 9 

Social  Sci?nce,  its  Relation  to  Veterinary  Science 11 

Stomacli,  Inflammation  of 13 

Swelled  Legs 15 

Scrotal  Hernia,  Reduction  of 18 

Spasm,  or  Cramp 20 

String  Halt 20 

Scratches 22 

Staggers 22 

Stifle  out 33 

Sore  Mouth 87 

Spasmodic  Colic 39 

Sole,  Bruise  of „ 41 

Spleen,  Enlargement  of . . . .   45 

Splenic  Apoplexy 55 

Stomach,  Over-D:stension  of 62 

Sweeney,  or  Wasting  of  Muscles 63 

Stomach,  Derangement  of VI 

Stables,  Light  in    82 

Splent,  its  Nature,  &c 92 

Spavin,  its  Nature,  &;c 93 

Suppression  of  Urine 97 

Sprain  of  the  Fetlock 99 

Structure  and  Function  of  the  Liver 101 

Surfeit 120 

Shoeing  Horses,  Rules  for 128 

Cavalry  Horses 137 

Horses  in  Scotland 138 

Tail,  Anatomy  of 27 

Thrush  in  the  Mouth 38 

Tetanus,  or  Locked  Jaw 51 

Typhoid  Pneumonia 53 

Teething 81 

Thick  and  Turbid  Urine 97 

Tracheotomy 105 

The  Bite  or  Sting  of  Venomous  Reptiles 117 

Thumps 118 

Theory  and  Practice  of  Shoeing  Horsea  in  Scotland 138 

Umbilical  Hernia 58 

Urine,  Bloody 96 

Suppression  of 97 

Profuse  Discharge  of 97 

Albuminous • 9i 

Thick  and  Turbid 97 

Use  of  the  hard  Palate,  or  Bars 109 

Veterinary  Science,  Remarks  on 11 

Veterinary  Midwifery,  Case  of 57 

Value  of  Carrots  ..." 100 

Veterinary  Science,  How  to  Inaugurate  it  in  the  U.  S.  Army 115 

Withers,  Fistulous 29 

Watering  Horsea V9 

Worms 113 

Warbles 118 


IMPOETANCE    OF  VENTILATING    STABLES, 

IN  VIEW   OF  PREVENTING   DISEASE. 


"  Prevention  is  better  than  Cure." 


It  was  the  intention  of  the  Creator,  that  all  animals,  so  long  as 
they  were  permitted  to  exercise  their  natm-al  instincts,  and  thus 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  physiology — the  science  of  life — 
should  enjoy  health  and  long  life.  Hence  a  great  amount  of  disease 
and  death  results  from  the  evils  of  domestication. 

One  of  the  conditions  which  physiology  imposes,  in  order  that 
a  horse  shall  enjoy  health,  is,  that  the  atmosphere  at  all  times,  and 
under  all  circumstances,  shall  be  uncontaminated,  so  that  the  blood 
shall  be  decarbonized  and  purified  of  the  defiling  elements  acquired 
in  the  course  of  circulation. 

Let  the  reader  understand  that  the  lungs  are  something  like  a 
sponge,  elastic,  composed  of  a  myriad  of  cells.  ^In  the  former,  how- 
ever, these  cells  have  a  vast  internal  surface,  communicating  with 
each  other  up  to  their  common  origin,  the  bronchial  tubes  and  wind- 
pipe. On  their  internal  surface  we  find  a  delicate  yet  highly  impor- 
tant membrane  permeable  to  the  atmosphere;  in  extent, itls  supposed 
to  occupy  a  square  surface  equal  to  that  of  the  external  body.  In 
contact  with  this  membrane  comes  the  atmosphere.  If  jiure,  zephyr- 
like,  it  fans  into  healthful  blaze  the  flame  of  life,  upheaving  from  the 
living  Vesuvius  arid  lava,  in  the  form  of  corbonic  acid  gas,  almost 
as  destructive  to  animality  as  that  issuing  from  its  great  prototype 
proves  to  vegetation.  The  stable  atmosphere  being  pure,  and  the 
lungs  in  working  order,  the  blood  is  well  arterialized,  capable  of 
supplying  the  waste  of  the  animal  machine,  and  renovating  its 
tissues. 

On  the  other  hand,  should  the  atmosphere  be  impure,  it  fails  to 
vitalize  the  blood  ;  the  latter  is  i;nfit  for  the  purpose  of  nutririon,  and 
may  be  considered  a  non-supporter  of  vitality.  Hence  the  need  of 
pure  air,  the  breath  of  life. 

Lut  are  horses  always  furnished  with  pure  air?  Let  the  owners 
of  un ventilated,  crowded,  filthy,  down-cellar  and  low-roofed  stables 
answer. 

Let  those  who  have  stables  in  the  region  of  swamps,  sewers,  and 
stagnant  pools  of  water  answer. 

In  ^ch  locations  disease  and  death  run  riot,  and  the  noble  com- 
panion of  man,  instead  of  being  within  the  ramparts  of  the  science 
of  life,  is  on  the  margin  of  death's  domain,     lie  may  exist  for  seve- 


10  IMPOKTANCE    OF   VENTILATING   STABLES. 

ral  days  without  food  or  watei*,  yet  the  consequent  result  is  nothing, 
when  compared  to  that  occasioned  by  breathing  atmosphere  highly 
charged  with  emanations  arising  from  his  own  body,  excrements,  and 
decomposing  bedding, 

A  horse  is  said  to  consume  in  the  lungs,  in  the  course  of  twenty- 
four  hours,  ninety-seven  ounces  of  carbon,  furnished  by  venous  blood; 
in  order  to  perform  this  feat,  he  requires  one  hundred  and  ninety 
cubic  feet  of  oxygen.  Now  suppose  there  are  ten  horses  occupying 
the  stable:  they  require  in  the  same  time  nineteen  hundred  cubic 
feet  of  oxygen,  and  consume  nine  hundred  and  seventy  ounces  of 
carbon.  They  are  supposed  also  to  give  out  from  the  lungs  a  vol- 
ume of  carbonic  acid  gas,  equal  to  that  of  the  oxygen  inspired ;  and 
supposing  the  atmosphere  to  be  saturated  with  only  five  per  centum 
of  the  former,  it  is  a  non-supporter  of  life. 

Hence  a  horse  shut  up  in  an  unventilated  stable,  must  sooner  or 
later  become  the  subject  of  disease;  the  evil  may  be  postponed,  but 
the  day  of  reckoning  is  sure  and  certain. 

Diseases,  such  as  horse-ail,  influenza,  catarrh,  strangles  and  glan- 
ders, often  originate  and  prevail  to  an  alarming  extent  in  the  unven- 
tilated stable  and  pest  spot,  while  in  other  locations,  favorable  to  the 
free  and  full  play  of  vital  operations,  the  favored  ones  seem  to  enjoy 
a  remarkable  immunity  from  the  prevailing  disease,  or  epizootic. 

Stablemen  and  husbandmen  are  often  led  to  remark,  that  when 
they  keep  but  few  animals,  disease  and  death,  except  in  cases  of 
accident  or  old  age,  are  quite  rare,  but  so  soon  as  they  crowded  the 
same,  sickness  and  death  were  the  consequences. 

In  view  of  supporting  this  theory,  I  may  be  permitted  to  remark 
that  ship  and  jail  fevers  maybe  manufactured  ad  libitum,  at  any 
time  when  a  large  number  of  persons  are  congregated  together  in  a 
given  space  ;  no  provision  having  been  made  for  the  admission  of 
pure  air.  The  unfortunate  prisoners  in  the  Black  Hole  of  Calcutta 
are  an  example,  and  the  mortality  occurring  on  board  our  emigrant 
ships  furnishes  another  illustration. 

A  number  ^of  horses  were  once  shipped  from  England  to  Spain, 
and  on  the  passage,  a  violent  gale  arising,  it  became  necessary  to 
fasten  down  the  hatchway;  the  consequence  was,  that  most  of  them 
ultimately  died  of  either  glanders  or  farcy. 

'  I  contend,  therefore,  that  the  active  or  morbid  germ  of  disease 
enters  the  living  citadel  through  the  i)ulmonary  tissue,  in  an  insidi- 
ous manner,  and  therefore  much  oftener  than  the  generality  of  men 
would  be  likely  to  realize.  Therefore  it  is  a  matter  of  vital  impor- 
tance that  attention  be  paid  to  the  ventilation  of  our  stables. 

If  proper  sanitary  regulations  were  established,  and  fully  carried 
out  in  all  our  stables,  glanders  and  other  infectious  diseases  would 
be  exceedingly  rare;  they  are  so,  among  horses  free  from  the  con- 
trol of  man,  \vhose  stalls  are  broad  as  from  ocean  to  ocean,  their 
height  ranging  from  earth  to  regions  above ;  the  space  pervaded  by 
a  pure  atmosj.here,  concocted  by  the  Great  Chemist,  pure  as  the 
pearly  di'ops,  and  refreshing  as  the  morning  zephyr.  In  such  loca- 
tions death  has  no  terrors  nor  disease  any  %ictims. 

Therefore  I  entreat  husbandmen  to  ventilate  their  stables,  and 
thus  prevent  unnecessary  disease. 


EEMARKS  ON  VETERINARY  SCIENCE, 

AND  THE  RELATION  IT  BEARS  TO  SOCIAL  SCIENCE. 


The  necessity  which  now  exists  for  the  services  of  educated 
Veterinary  Surgeons  in  cavahy  regiments  of  the  United  States 
army,  is  evident  to  every  thinking  man;  yet  prior  to  the  advent  of 
our  p!-esent  national  troubles,  it  was  found  almost  impossible  to 
interest  the  right  kind  of  men,  so  that  they  might  use  their  influence 
for  the  purpose  of  directing  the  attention  of  the  general  Government 
to  the  value  and  importance  of  Veterinary  Science  ;  but  the  proba- 
bility is,  that  the  Congress  now  assembled,  will  soon  legislate  on  the 
subject,  and  before  long  we  may  expect  to  hear  of  the  appointment 
of  a  Veterinary  Surgeon  and  Assistant  Surgeon  to  each  cavalry 
regiment. 

There  exists  no  earthly  reason  why  our  j^rofession  should  not 
rank  as  high  in  America,  as  in  England  and  France;  the  great  losses 
which  are  continually  occvirring  among  aryny  horses,  is  a  monstrous 
and  growing  evil,  and  in  view  of  preventing  unnecessary  diseases 
and  premature  deaths,  the  Government  must  organize  a  Veterinary 
corps. 

It  is,  also,  very  important  that  our  science  should  attract  the 
notice  of  legislators,  for  it  bears  a  very  intimate  relation  to  social 
science ;  inasmuch  as  men  and  animals  are  subject  to  similar  dis- 
eases, which  are  communicable  one  to  the  other,  and  which  often 
arise  spontaneously  and  are  transmitted  from  first  to  second.  For 
example,  there  is  a  disease  which  often  occurs  among  cattle  known 
as  "  Anthrax  f  it  is  a  malignant  disease,  and  many  persons  have 
lost  their  lives  by  absorbing  the  virulent  "  anthrax  poiso7i^''  from  the 
carcasses  of  the  dead  animals. 

A  cutaneoiis  disease  often  occurs  among  the  bovine  species, 
known  as  "  rJcigworm,''^  which  afi'ects  the  hands  and  arms  of  some 
persons  who  attend  such  animals. 

It  is  asserted  also  that  the  vesicular  murrain,  which  often  pre- 
vails among  cows,  gives  rise  to  the  development  of  a  virus,  which 
is  often  squeezed  into  the  milk  pail,  and  produces  very  bad  eflects 
on  children  when  fed  on  the  same. 

It  lias  been  discovered  that  the  little  vesicles  found  in  measled 
pork  are  tape  worms,  in  a  certain  stage  of  development,  and  if  not 
destroyed  by  thoroughly  cooking,  the  infected  meat  may  develop 
the  dangerous  parasite  in  the  human  intestines. 

That  awful  disease  known  as  virulent  "  glanders,"  (spontaneous 
in  some  horses,)  has  destroyed  many  of  our  race  ;  a  small  portion  of 


12  REMARKS   ON   VETERINARY   SCIENCE. 

the  glandered  matter,  coming  in  contact  with  an  abraded,  or  absorb- 
ing spot,  on  any  part  of  a  man's  body,  will  surely  cause  him  to  die 
the  most  horrible  of  all  deaths  ;  and  the  same  remarks  apply  to  the 
disease  known  as  '■'•  malignant  farcy P 

I  might  enumerate  many  other  form??  of  disease  which  are  com- 
municable from  the  superior  order  of  animality  to  the  inferior,  and 
vice  versa,  but  the  above  must  suffice,  in  view  of  attracting  attention 
to  the  value  and  importance  of  the  subject.  In  regard  to  the  origin 
of  diseases,  it  is  known  to  the  profession  that  the  diseases  of  men 
and  animals  are  often  due  to  similar  causes;  that  the  evils  of  domes- 
tication which  operate  to  develop  disease  in  animals,  are  as  notorious 
as  the  evils  of  civilization,  which  induce  unnecessary  disease  and 
premature  death  among  members  of  the  human  family ;  therefore, 
our  science  does  bear  an  intimate  relation  to  social  science,  and  it 
appeal's  to  me  that  no  scientific  mind  can  fail  to  appreciate  the 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  a  more  extended  knowledge  of  the 
fundamental  principles  of  veterinary  science. 

Let  husbandmen  and  stock  raisers  of  this  country  put  their 
shoulders  to  the  wheel,  in  view  of  establishing  veterinary  schools 
and  colleges  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  our  immense 
agricultural  domain  ;  and  soon  we  can  boast  of  having  a  class  of 
Veterinary  Surgeons,  educated  on  American  soil,  conversant  with 
the  diseases  incidental  to  the  live  stock  of  America  /  in  that  event, 
we  can  do  our  own  "  Doctoring,''''  without  foreign  interference. 

I  am  not  disposed  to  find  fault,  nor  scold  about  the  itinerant  vet- 
erinary practice  which  prevails  in  this  locality,  for  I  am  aware  that 
all  try  to  do  the  best  they  can  for  the  relief  of  the  inferior  orders  of 
creation  ;  the  fault  is  not  with  the  practitioners,  but  with  the  people 
who  have  failed  to  ..furnish  the  means  of.  education. 


NA.TURE     OF    DISEA.se 


METHODS  OF  TREATMENT. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  STOMACH. 

Cause. — Improper  food,  and  poisons  which  irritate  the  vascular 
coat  of  the  stomach ;  the  disease  often  runs  into  the  gastro-enteritis, 
which  signifies  inflammation  of  the  stomach  and  bowels. 

Symptoms. — The  animal  is  very  restless  and  ungovernable,  and 
appears  to  be  in  excessive  pain,  the  pulse  is  wiiy,  and  the  patient 
refuses  both  food  and  water,  knowing,  probably,  that  if  anything 
be  taken  into  the  stomach  it  will  only  add  to  the  torment. 

Treatment. — Give  the  animal,  every  four  hours,  one  pint  of  lin- 
seed tea,  into  which  stir  one  drachm  of  nitrate  of  potass.  Should 
it  be  discovered  that  the  animal  has  been  poisoned,  give  half  a  pint 
of  linseed  oil,  and  the  same  quantity  of  lime-water ;  mix,  and  give 
as  a  drench  every  four  hours,  until  the  animal  is  better,  or  the 
bowels  respond  to  the  medicine.  The  patient  should  be  lightly  fed, 
and  during  convalescence  should  have  a  few  doses  of  an  infusion  of 
chamomiles. 


ABDOMINAL  DROPSY. 

Cause. — Effusion  of  serum  into  the  abdominal  cavity.  It  often 
is  the  result  of  an  acute  disease  of  the  peritoneum. 

Symptoms. — Dropsical  swellings  in  the  sheath  and  limbs ;  the 
abdomen  is  enlarged ;  the  appetite  is  not  good,  and  the  animal  is 
thirsty.  Let  one  person  strike  the  walls  of  the  abdomen  with  his 
hand,  while  another  rests  his  hand  on  the  opposite  side ;  at  the  mo- 
ment of  striking,  the  person  on  the  opposite  side  will  feel  a  fluctu- 
ating movement,  demonstrating  the  presence  of  water  within  the 
abdomen.     The  external  symptoms  show  unthriftiness  and  debility. 

Treatment. — The  disease  being  of  a  prostrating  character,  the 
patient's  strength  must  be  sustained ;  give  one  drachm  of  ginger, 
and  the  same  quantity  of  golden  seal,  and  twenty  grains  of  iodide 
of  potass,  night  and  morning,  in  a  few  oats  or  shorts,  and  rub  the 
external  swellings  once,  daily,  with  oil  of  cedar. 


14  TREATISE    ON    DISEASES 


FOUNDER,     (acute  laminitis.) 

The  terra  founder  signifies  "ruin;"  because  a  horse  in  a  foun- 
dered condition  is,  while  the  disease  lasts,  a  ruined  animal.  The 
disease  is  known  to  professional  men  as  Z/aminitls,  (inflnmraation  of 
the  vascular  parts  of  the  foot.)  During  the  progress  of  the  disease, 
ateopiit,  or  wasting  of  the  muscles  of  the  shoulders,  occiirs,  and 
some  persons  are  then  disposed  to  call  the  malady  "  chest  founder," 
but  the  original  seat  of  the  malady  was  in  the  foot ;  the  wasting  of 
the  muscles  occurs  in  consequence  of  a  want  of  physiological  action 
of  the  same. 

This  disease,  in  its  acute  form,  comes  on  very  suddenly,  and  may 
be  occasioned  by  severe  work,  overfeeaing,  or  imbibing  cold  water 
when  the  animal  is  in  a  state  of  perspiration  ;  it  often  has  a  metasta- 
tic origin,  that  is,  translation  of  disease  from  the  lungs  to  the  feet. 

Symptoms. — The  most  reliable  symptoms  are,  a  hard,  strong  and 
wiry  pulse,  unnatural  heat  about  the  feet ;  the  animal  appears  to 
suffer  much  pain,  and  is  continually  shifting  his  position  and  sending 
his  foot  forwards ;  sometimes,  in  view  of  obtaining  relief,  he  lies 
down,  but  is  uneasy  and  breathes  quick.  The  position  which  the 
animal  assumes,  and  the  unnatural  heat  of  the  hoofs,  point  out  clear- 
ly the  true  character  of  the  affection.  ' 

Tkeatment  op  Acute  Founder. — The  feet  should  be  kept  con- 
stantly moist  with  cold  water,  and  four  drachms  of  nitrate  of  potass 
may  be  given,  twice,  daily,  in  a  little  water ;  but  should  the  animal 
labor  under  a  gorged  state  of  the  stomach,  administer  tonics  and 
stimulants  in  view  of  arousing  the  digestive  function,  so  that  the 
food  may  be  digested,  and  thus  pass  out  of  the  stomach. 

A  few  doses  of  nitrate  of  potass  will  soon  decrease  the  action  of 
the  heart,  and  lessen  the  inflammatory  action  of  the  feet. 


CHRONIC  FOUNDER. 

Chronic  Founder  is  usually  the  result  of  organic  foot  disease,  and 
a  permanent  cure  is  almost  a  matter  of  impossibility;  the  only  thing 
we  can  do,  is  to  mitigate  the  sufferings  of  the  animal,  by  applying 
lubricating  and  counter-irritating  liniments  to  the  feet  and  limbs, 
and  by  having  the  feet  properly  prepared  and  shod,  and  allowing 
the  subject  to  spend  his  time  in  the  pasture.  (See  article  '■'■Sweeney y) 
Some  persons  contend  there  are  many  kinds  of  founder,  but  the  facts 
are,  founder  is  not  the  disease;  the  wiry  shoulders  and  hollowness 
in  front  of  the  chest,  are  mere  effects  arising  from  protracted  dis- 
ease and  pain  in  the  fore  feet — chronic  foot  lameness. 


PKCL"LIAK   TO   HORSES.  15 


CAPPED  HOCK. 

Capped  Hock  consists  of  a  soft  enlargement  at  the  point  of  the 
hock  or  bone,  known  as  the  os  calcis  y  the  enlai'gement  is  usually 
occasioned  by  a  bruise  or  some  injury  done  to  the  parts. 

TiiEATMENT. — Rub  the  parts  twice  daily  with  some  stimulating 
liniment,*  and  let  the  animal  have  regular  daily  exercise. 


CAPPED  ELBOW. 

Capped  Elbow  is  similar  to  Capped  Hock ;  it  arises  from  the  same 
cause  and  requires  the  same  treatment. 


PUMICED  FOOT. 

Symptoms. — Convex  sole   and    descent  of   sole ;   he  travels  as 
though  he  was  afraid  to  put  his  foot  fairly  on  the  ground. 
Teeatment. — A  run  at  grass. 


PUNCTURE  OF  THE  SOLE  OF  THE  FOOT. 

Horses'  feet  very  often  get  punctured  in  consequence  of  picking 
up  a  nail  when  traveling  on  the  road ;  at  other  times  horses'  feet  get 
punctured  in  consequence  of  the  smith  accidentally  driving  a  nail  in 
a  wrong  direction ;  sometimes  very  little  injury  results,  but  often 
locked  jaw  ensues. 

Treatment. — Enlarge  the  orifice  so  as  to  allow  of  the  escape  of 
any  matter  that  may  form  within  the  hoof;  then  apply  a  plaster  com-* 
posed  of  equal  parts  of  brown  sugar  and  soap — or  dress  with  LorcJ 
&  Smith's  Magnetic  Lotion,  and  apply  leather  under  the  foot,  be- 
tween the  shoe  and  sole.  When  all  symptoms  of  lameness  have 
subsided,  the  leather  may  be  removed.  It  is  important  that  the 
orifice,  made  by  the  puncturing  nail,  should  be  enlarged,  otherwise 
the  matter  will  burrow  and  form  a  quittor. 


SWELLED  LEGS. 

Swelled  legs  are  occasioned  by  what  is  known  as  local  dropsy ; 
some  horses  seera  to  possess  a  peculiar  predisposition,  and  whenever 
they  get  sick,  or  stand  a  few  days  in  the  stable,  their  hind  legs  swell. 

*  The  Magnetic  Liniment  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Lord  &  Smith,  No.  23  Lake  street,  Chicago,  I  ■ 
have  found  very  efficacious. 


16  TREATISE   ON   DISEASES 

The  swelling  arises  from  the  presence  of  serum  or  water  within  the 
Cellular  tissue  of  the  parts. 

Teba^tmext. — Should  the  swelled  legs  be  the  result  of  a  prostrat- 
ing disease,  tonics  and  diuretics  are  indicated  ;  give  two  drachms  of 
powdered  goldenseal  every  morning,  and  three  drachms  of  nitrat'* 
of  potass  every  night,  to  be  mixed  with  the  food,  and  let  the  animal 
have  daily  exercise. 

In  obstinate  cases  it  will  be  necessary  to  apply  daily  a  pjtion  of 
the  following  : 

Spirits  of  Camphor , .  6  ounces. 

Vinegar 1  quart. 

Mix. 
Or  use  Lord  &  Smith's  Magnetic  Liniment. 


INFLUENZA  AND  DISTEMPER. 

Such  affections  as  the  above  named,  are  apt  to  make  their  app^^ar- 
ance  in  the  spring,  and  are  most  prevahnt  in  stables  that  are  n<>t 
ventilated ;  such  affections  are  very  apt  to  extend  from  the  raucous 
surfaces  of  the  nostrils,  to  the  throat  and  interior  of  the  air  cells  of 
the  lungs;  usually,  however,  the  throat  is  the  seat  of  soren<ss  and 
exudation  ;  while  in  some  cases  that  have  lately  occurred  in  this  city, 
a  very  profuse  discharge  from  both  nostrils  was  observed,  which 
ended  in  a  critical  outburst  of  an  abscess  between  the  angles  of  the 
lower  jaw.  In  two  cases  that  have  lately  come  under  my  observa- 
tion, the  disease  ended  in  pleurisy,  and  effusion  of  serum  into  the 
cavity  of  the  chest,  which  was  attended  with  dropsical  swellings  of 
the  legs  and  external  parts  of  the  chest. 

When  distemper  occurs  in  the  system  of  an  animal  debilitated 
by  previous  disease,  or  one  of  a  morbid  or  scrofulous  diathesis,  a 
profuse  and  protracted  nasal  gleet  remains,  and  this  is  accompanied 
by  tumefaction  of  the  thyroid  glands  in  the  region  of  the  throat. 
The  purulent  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  need  not  occasion  any 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  owner  of  the  horse  or  the  medical  attend- 
ant, for,  as  it  increases  in  quantity,  the  other  observable  symptoms  of 
the  malady  grow  milder;  in  fact,  the  discharge  may  be  considered 
an  effort,  on  the  part  of  nature,  to  rid  the  system  of  morbific  mat- 
ter, and  any  attempts  by  injudicious  treatment  to  arrest  this  salutary 
discharge  may  effect  a  translation  of  disease,  which  often  ends  in 
death.  Death  may,  however,  be  occasioned  by  the  re-absorption  of 
the  morbid  nasal  discharge;  under  such  circumstances,  the  nasal 
membrane  takes  on  a  livid  aspect,  and  streaks  or  spots  of  extrava- 
Rated  blood  are  observed;  the  membranes  of  the  eyes  assume  a  dark 
red  color,  the  pulse  becomes  indistinct;  cold  sweats  bedew  the  body; 
the  patient  becomes  emaciated,  loses  his  appetite,  and,  soon  after,  his 
life.  In  a  few  solitary  cases  a  partial  recovery  takes  place — death 
refuses  to  receive  a  victim — the  animal  lives  to  be  the  subject  of  con- 
firmed heaves  or  broken  wind. 

As    REGARDS    THE    CoNTAGIOUS    OR  INFECTIOUS   ELEMENT  OF   DiS- 


PECULIAR   TO    HOESES.  17 

TEMPER. — Should  I  contend  that  "Distemper"  was  contagions  and 
infectious,  probably  the  bulk  of  evidence  would  be  on  my  side ;  in 
fact,  I  was  formerly  led  to  believe  that,  either  by  infection  or  conta- 
gion, distemper  was  propagated  from  the  system  of  one  animal  to 
that  of  another ;  but  experience,  which  is  generally  the  only  true 
guide,  has  of  late  years  led  me  to  think  differently,  yet  I  am  well 
aware  that  even  at  the  present  day,  in  spite  of  the  ever  accumulative 
knowledge  of  pathology,  both  the  negative  and  afiii'mative  of  this 
proposition  may  be  logically  maintained. 

Because  a  number  of  horses  are  attacked  with  distemper,  in  this 
or  that  stable,  is  not  positive  proof  in  evidence  of  its  contagious  or 
infectious  element,  because  the  season  of  the  year  may  have  more  to 
do  with  its  production  than  some  people  are  aware  of  It  is  well 
known  that  influenza  or  distemper  is  more  frequently  encountered 
in  spring,  than  in  autumn;  more  in  autumn,  in  some  countries,  than 
in  summer,  and  in  winter  more  rarely  than  in  either  of  the  other 
quarters  of  the  year. 

Then  again,  influenza  may  make  its  appearance  at  a  certain  stable, 
and  rapidly  spread,  so  that  a  great  proportion  of  its  occupants  are 
affected  with  unmistakable  symptoms  of  the  malady ;  but  this 
proves  nothing  in  favor  of  the  theory  of  the  contagioniists,  for  the 
same  cause  which  operated  to  develop  the  malady  in  the  system 
of  one  animal,  was  operative  (if  operative  at  all)  in  the  systems  of 
the  others. 

In  view  of  maintaining  my  argument,  I  offer  the  following  perti- 
nent case :  Mr.  Harbin,  an  extensive  dealer  in  horses,  informs  me 
that  he  once  purchased  a  number  of  horses  for  a  southern  market, 
and  knowing  that  all  horses  at  some  period  of  their  existence  ought, 
or  must,  have  an  attack  of  distemper,  he  was  desirous  of  getting  his 
animals  through  the  scrape  ere  he  delivered  them  to  his  friends ; 
and  in  view  of  delivering  them  in  good  condition,  he  purposely  ex- 
posed them,  by  purchasing  a  horse  affected  with  distemj^er ;  and  not- 
withstanding his  efforts  to  communicate  the  disease,  the  animals 
improved  in  condition,  and  not  one  of  them  appeared  sick  until  a  long 
time  afterwards  when  they  Avere  landed  in  a  southern  port,  and  even 
then  he  disposed  of  the  whole  lot,  having  but  one  sick  patient  on  his 
hands;  the  sickness  being  contracted  after  arriving  south. 

Treatment  of  Distemper. — The  animal  should  be  placed  in  a 
comfortable  location,  where  he  can  breathe  pure  air,  and  be  free 
from  annoyance  of  every  kind ;  should  the  weather  be  chilly,  the 
body  may  be  lightly  clothed,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  limbs  band- 
aged with  flannel.  It  is  very  important  that  the  surface  of  the  body 
be  kept  warm,  for  when  cold,  the  equilibrium  of  the  circulation  is 
disturbed,  the  blood  then  localizes  itself  about  the  intei'nal  organs, 
and  produces  congestion ;  a  condition  very  unfavorable,  in  view  of 
the  speedy  restoration  of  the  sick  creature. 

It  should  be  understood  by  every  husbandman  that  this  affection 
is  of  a  ])rostrating  nature,  that  the  object  of  the  treatment  of  the 
malady  is  to  husband  the  animal  powers — T<:epp  the  horse  alive  while 
the  disease  runs  its  course — and  preserve  the  tone  of  the  system  by 
administering  tonics  and  diffusive  stimulants  ;  a  few  doses  of  golden 
seal  and  ginger,  accompanied  by  a  rational  allowance  of  scalded  oats, 
2 


18  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

small  quantities  of  hay,  and  water  enough,  are  generally  all  that  is 
needed  by  way  of  treatment.  And  if  this  course  be  pursued,  the 
animal  will  recover,  very  little  the  worse  for  having  had  the  distem- 
per. A  mild  form  of  this  disease  is  often  made  to  assume  a  typhoid 
or  putrid  type  simply  from  meddlesome  medication  and  overdosing, 
with  agents  which  depress  the  vital  powers,  and  by  bleeding. 

No  matter  what  may  be  the  stage  in  which  we  find  the  disease,  the 
treatment  must  be  life-sustaining;  no  kind  of  treatment  which  con- 
templates a  depression  of  vitality  is  at  all  admissible.  This  is  my 
experience  after  a  practice  of  very  many  years — and  the  most  intel- 
ligent and  liberal-minded  physicians  of  the  present  day  depend  more 
on  nature  than  art,  in  the  treatment  of  distemper. 

Should  swellings  appear  under  the  chest  and  limbs,  the  proposed 
plan  of  treatment  is  not  to  be  materially  altered,  only  add  to  the 
golden  seal  and  ginger  a  little  iodide  of  potass ;  this  agent  is  a  gland- 
ular stimulant,  and  augments  the  function  of  the  absorbents  which 
take  up  the  fluid  and  thus  reduce  the  swellings,  which  are  of  a 
dropsical  character.  The  proportions  of  the  above  agents  are  as 
follows : 

Golden  Seal,  powdered ^ ..._.,  2  ounces. 

Ginger,  "  1  ounce. 

Iodide  of  Potass  "  3  drachms. 

Mix,  and  divide  into  twelve  parts,  and  give  one  night  and  morning 
in  food  or  gruel. 

It  may  happen  that  the  animal  is  unable  to  swallow,  in  conse- 
quence of  soreness  of  throat,  as  the  saying  is  ;  in  such  case  we  mere- 
ly apply  some  stimulating  application  to  the  region  of  the  throat, 
and  wait  awhile;  soon  the  soreness  subsides,  and  the  patient  can 
then  swallow  all  he  needs  and  as  much  as  nature  requires. 

The  best  stimulating  application  for  the  throat  is 

Cod  Liver  Oil 4  ounces. 

Tincture  of  Capsicum ,  . . .  ..^ . .  1  ounce. 

Ajiother  perhaps  equally  as  good : 

Olive  Oil 6  ounces. 

Spirits  of  Hartshorn 2  ounces. 

A  portion  of  either  of  the  above  preparations  may  be  rubbed  into 
the  thyriod  region  twice  daily.  Under  the  above  mode  of  treat- 
ment I  have  found  that  recovery  is  not  only  soon  accomplished  but 
perfect. 


KEDUCTION  OF  SCROTAL  HERNIA.* 

The  best  method  of  reducing  scrotal  hernia  in  the  uncastrated 
colt,  is  to  cast  the  horse  by  means  of  the  hobbles,  and  when  on  its 
back,  the  animal  is  to  be  kept  in  that   position,  while,  by  means  of 

*  nevnia  is  from  a  Greek  word  which  signifies  a  breach,  from  Its  protrusion  out  of  its  place — a 
rupture.  When  the  hernia  turanr  is  easUy  put  back  into  the  abdomen,  i'.  is  called  reducible  herria. 
The  symptoms  of  a  reducible  hernia  are  not  very  violent ;  the  horse  will  paw  with  his  fore  extremi- 
ties, hangj  hii  head,  looks  silently  at  his  fl.ink,  and  appearri  to  suffer  from  constant,  jet  not  very 
active  pain  ;  on  the  afTjicted  side  the  scrotal  bag  will  appear  cold. 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  19 

the  hand  and  fingers,  the  bowel  is  kneaded  back  again  into  the 
abdominal  cavity.  Should  the  bowel  or  intestine  not  return  readily, 
a  tackle,  double  and  single  block  with  a  small  rope^  must  be  fixed  to 
a  beam  above  the  posterior  part  of  the  animal;  then  hook  the  single 
block  into  the  hind  hobbles,  and  raise  the  posterior  parts  from  the 
ground;  this  sends  the  contents  of  the  abdomen  forwards,  towards 
the  diaphragm,  and  the  imprisoned  intestine  usually  recedes  into 
proper  position.  Should  the  bowel  not  return,  after  a  fair  trial,  the 
animal  may  be  aetlierized  ;  while  administering  the  tether,  however, 
the  patient  should  be  released  from  the  tackle,  and  hoisted  again 
when  in  a  state  of  OBtherization;  after  this  the  hernia  is  easily 
reduced. 

Should,  however,  the  case  be  a  bad  one,  in  consequence  of  a  lapse 
of  considerable  time  since  the  period  of  the  accident,  or  from  the 
presence  of  a  portion  of  bowel  distended  with  gas,  forming  a  tumor 
of' considerable  magnitude,  the  operator  must  proceed  to  open  the 
scrotum  and  tunica  vaginalis,  and  should  a  portion  of  bowel  present 
itself,  much  distended  with  gas,  the  bowel  may  be  punctured  in 
several  places  with  the  point  of  a  fine  needle;  these  punctures  will 
allow  the  gas  to  escape,  and  the  volume  of  the  intestine  is  so  reduced 
that  it  usually  returns,  without  any  trouble,  into  its  proper  cavity. 
Having  reduced  the  hernia,  the  wooden  clamps  are  to  be  placed  on 
the  spermatic  cord  and  secured;  the  testicle  is  then  to  be  severed 
from  the  cord. 

A  case  may  now  and  then  occur,  which  precludes  the  possibility 
of  a  return  of  the  intestine,  after  the  above  fashion,  in  consequence 
of  a  thickened  state  of  the  walls  of  the  gut;  in  such  a  case  we  have 
to  enlarge  the  inguinal  ring  with  a  probe-pointed  bistourie,  and  after 
the  bowel  has  returned  into  the  abdomen,  castration  must  be  per- 
formed as  just  described, 

IShall  ine  remove  both  testicles  P  I  usually  invite  the  owner  of  the 
horse  to  decide  this  question  ;  at  the  same  time  inform  him  that  the 
animal,  unless  a  veiy  valuable  one,  had  better  be  completely  emas- 
culated. The  loss  of  one  testicle  will  not  very  seriously  impair  his 
powers  as  a  sire  of  progeny ;  thei'efore,  if  the  subject  of  this  loss 
be  of  good  blood  or  stock,  it  is  better  to  let  the  unafiected  testicle 
remain,  for,  as  the  old  saying  is,  "blood  will  tell." 


OiT  THE  TREATMENT  OF  FEVERS. 

"fevers  generally  tend  to  their  own  cure." 

Mann,  and  several  other  authors  of  the  modern  school,  contend, 
that  "  The  principal  treatment  that  is  necessary  in  disorders  of  this 
kind,  is,  to  let  nature  have  '  fair  play.'  If  the  purest  air  is  sup- 
plied, the  most  perfect  cleanliness  is  scrupulously  observed,  and 
nothing  is  given  or  done  that  can  continue  the  oppression  of  the 
system,  nature  soon  rights  herself  The  excretory  organs,  step  by 
step,  expil  the  offending  matter  from  the  blood,  and  the  balance  of 
health  is  gradually  restored.  The  low  diet,  the  quiet,  and  other 
valuable  measures  directed  by  medical  science,  all  have  the  object 


20  TKEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

in  view,  in  the  first  place,  of  removing  or  withholding  snch  influence 
as  would  oppose  nature  in  its  beneficent  work ;  and,  in  the  second 
place,  of  aiding  its  operations,  so  far  as  this  can  be  done,  by  artifi- 
cial appliances.  Every  one  ought  to  understand  this,  in  order  that 
he  may  be  prepared  to  yield  intelligent  and  eflBeient  obedience  to 
medical  suggestions  and  directions,  in  case  of  being  placed  in  posi- 
tions in  which  such  may  be  required." 

The  above  are  very  excellent  directions,  and  if  fully  carried  out 
in  the  treatment  of  the  various  diseases  of  the  inferior  orders  of 
creation,  would  probably  save  the  lives  of  many  valuable  animals 
that  are  constantly  dying  from  the  practice  of  a  system  of  meddle- 
some medication,  and  from  the  unwarrantable  use  of  drugs  that  are 
either  injurious  or  actively  poisonous  in  their  character. 


CRAMP  OR  SPASM. 

Cramp,  as  it  occurs  in  horses,  is  usually  confined  to  the- muscles 
and  tendons  which  flex  the  limb.  The  following  case  will  illus- 
trate my  treatment : 

Case  of  Cramp,  or  Spasm. — I  was  requested,  a  short  time  ago, 
to  visit  a  horse,  said  to  be  the  subject  of  "  stifle  lameness."  The 
patient,  a  gray  gelding,  aged  eight  years,  was  put  up  at  the  stable, 
on  the  evening  preceding  my  visit,  apparently  in  perfect  health  ; 
early  in  the  morning,  ere  I  was  called,  the  *'  feeder"  observed  that 
the  horse  was  incapable  of  moving  the  near  hind  limb,  and  it 
appeared  to  be,  as  I  was  informed,  "  as  stiflT  as  a  crowbar." 

On  making  an  examination  of  the  body  of  the  animal,  he 
appeared  to  be  in  perfect  health ;  yet  he  was  unable  to  raise  the 
limb,  in  the  slightest  degree,  from  the  stable  floor.  The  case  was 
accordingly  diagnosed  as  cramp  of  the  flexors. 

Treatment. — The  body  and  lower  parts  of  the  limbs  were 
clothed  with  blankets  and  flannel  bandages,  and  the  affected  limb 
was  diligently  rubbed  for  half  an  hour  with  a  portion  of  the  follow- 
ing liniment : 

Oil  of  Cedar 1  ounce. 

Sulphuric  ^ther 2  ounces. 

Proof  Spirit 1  pint. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  hours  after  the  first  application,  the  diffi- 
culty had  entirely  disappeared. 

The  owner  informed  me  that  the  horse  had,  on  the  day  prior  to 
the  attack,  been  exposed  to  a  cold  and  continuous  rain  storm,  and 
probably  this  operated  as  the  exciting  cause  of  the  spasm. 


STRINGHALT. 

Stringlialt  is  probably  a  disease   of  the  nervous  system,   and 
seems  to  aff'ect  the  muscles  of  the  hind  extremities  through  the 


PECULIAE    TO    HOESES.  21 

nerves  of  involuntary  motion.  Persons  who  have  dissected  ani- 
mals which  were  once  the  subjects  of  stringhalt,  declare  that  they 
found  pressure  on  the  posterior  portion  of  the  spinal  column. 

I  have  noticed  that  many  horses,  the  subjects  of  commencing 
spavin,  have  stringhalt  when  they  start.  This  may  be  occasioned 
by  irritation  on  the  nerve  which  passes  over  the  hock. 

Medicine  has  but  little  if  any  power  over  this  disease,  yet,  if 
the  reader  wishes  to  try  the  effects  of  the  same,  I  would  advise 
the  use  of  stimulating  liniment,  to  be  applied  over  the  region  of  the 
back,  and  inside  of  the  thighs,  and  let  the  animal  have  a  couple  of 
drachms  of  asafcetida  every  day  for  a  week  or  more.  Most  vete- 
rinary surgeons  contend  that  stringhalt  is  incurable.  In  France  the 
action  of  a  stringhalt  horse  is  (on  the  dancing-master  principle)  con- 
sidered rather  graceful  than  otherwise;  so  that  if  any  of  the  readers 
of  this  work  happen  to  have  a  hoi*se  the  subject  of  stringhalt  which 
they  camiot  cure,  they  had  better  ship  him  to  France. 


MEGRIMS. 

Megrims,  in  the  horse,  is  supposed  to  be  analogous  to  epilepsy  in 
man.  A  horse  the  subject  of  this  affection  is  apt  to  appear  dull  and 
stupid  when  at  work,  and  will,  at  a  later  period  in  the  stage  of  the 
malady,  be  seized  with  a  sudden  fit,  and  drop  down  in  the  shafts  ; 
at  other  times  will  gallop  forwards  and  run  head  foremost  into  any 
obstacle  which  happens  to  be  in  his  way ;  he  soon  after  goes  into 
convulsions  and  becomes  insensible. 

A  horse  subject  to  this  malady  is  never  safe  to  drive,  and  conse- 
quently is  almost  worthless ;  indeed,  when  attacked,  his  recovery  is 
never  certain,  for  he  often  dies  in  convulsions. 

Treatment. — Bathe  the  head  constantly  with  cold  water,  and 
apply  spirits  of  ammonia  to  his  nostrils ;  should  the  case  be  a  cura- 
ble one,  the  animal  will  soon  rise,  when  he  must  be  led,  cautiously, 
to  the  stable.     Then  administer  the  following: 

Powdered  Golden  Seal 1  ounce. 

Mandrake 1       " 

Ginger  2       " 

Carbonate  of  Soda 1       " 

Divide  into  ten  parts,  and  give  one,  night  and  morning,  in  a  few 
oats. 


INFLAMIIATION  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

Animals  most  subject  to  this  affection,  have  a  short  thick  neck 
and  l)ulky  forehead  ;  the  disease  is  one  of  the  most  formidable  with 
which  we  have  to  contend,  as  it  often  ends  in  frenzy ;  sometimes, 
however,  dropsy  of  the  brain  sets  in,  at  others,  rupture  of  a  blood 
vessel  takes  place — in  either  case,  death  is  very  apt  to  ensue. 


22  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

Symptoms. — The  animal  seems  to  have  no  control  over  itself,  and 
will  clash  about  in  the  most  violent  mannei-,  and  disregards  all  the 
owner's  commands  ;  the  mcmbranns  of  the  eyes  are  very  hii^hly 
injected,  and  the  pulse  is  full  and  active.  In  short,  the  animal 
appears  in  a  state  of  madness. 

Treatment. — The  only  way  in  which  we  can  be  of  any  service, 
in  a  case  of  this  character,  is  to  use  the  lancet  freely  until  the  patient 
is  prostrated,  then  give  half  an  ounce  of  pulverized  nitre,  and  ten 
grains  of  aconite  root  every  half  hour,  until  symptoms  of  improve- 
ment take  place;  in  the  meantime,  injections,  composed  of  hot 
water,  soap  and  salt,  should  be  thrown  into  the  rectum.  Tonics 
should  be  resorted  to,  as  soon  as  the  patient  shows  symptoms  of 
weakness. 


STAGGERS. 

The  usual  forms  of  staggers  which  occur  among  horses  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  are  Stomach  Staggers  and  Sleepy  Staggers ;  in  the 
first  case,  the  animal  is  usually  the  subject  of  over  distention  of  the 
stomach,  and,  when  urged  to  move,  8tacjger&  like  a  drunken  man  ;  in 
the  latter  case,  the  function  of  the  stomach  is  paralyzed,  and  the 
animal  is  somnolent  or  sleepy. 

The  usual  exciting  causes  of  such  affections  are,  overfeeding  and 
want  of  proper  exercise,  yet  it  may  arise  from  hard  work  when  the 
animal  is  the  subject  of  an  over-distended  stomach. 

Treatment. — Both  the  above  affections  may  be  treated  as  follows : 
Give  the  patient  six  ounces  of  table  salt,  one  ounce  of  ginger,  in  half 
a  pint  of  hot  water.  Then  dissolve  half  a  pound  of  Glauber  salts 
in  hot  water  and  throw  the  same  into  the  rectum.  In  the  course  of 
a  couple  of  hours  the  dose  may  be  repeated.  The  diet  should  consist 
of  sloppy  bran  mashes,  well  seasoned  with  salt. 


GREASE. 

In  olden  times,  Grease  or  Scratches,  and  cracked  heels,  were  not 
only  very  prevalent  but  very  formidable  affections.  Before  veterin- 
ary surgr-ons  were  employed  in  the  British  army,  many  thousands 
of  valuable  horses  were  condemned  as  useless  for  active  service  in 
consequence  of  the  prevalence  of  that  loathsome  affection  known  as 
inveterate  Grease ;  but  now  in  consequence  of  the  presence  of  vete- 
rinary surgeons  and  the  consequent  improved  system  of  manage- 
ment in  camp  and  stable.  Grease  is  almost  unknown.  Most  vete- 
rinary writers  contend  that  Grease  almost  always  arises  from  im- 
proper management  of  the  horse,  yet  I  have  seen  it  occur  in  horses 
that  were  well  cared  for  and  properly  treated.  The  truth  is,  some 
horses  are  predisposed  to  affections  of  the  skin  of  the  heels  and  the 
sebaceous  glands  of  the  same,  and  although  cleanliness  and  good 
management  may  stave  off  an  attack  for  a  long  while,  yet  when  the 


PECULIAR   TO    HORSES.  23  , 

system  abounds  in  morbific  matter  the  same  is  very  apt  to  gravitate 
towards  the  heels — they  being  most  remote  from  the  centre  of  circu- 
lation— inducing  inflammation  of  the  skin  of  the  heels,  distinsion  of 
the  sebaceous  glands,  and  a  stinking  and  unhealthy  deposit  on  the 
surface,  and  a  purulent  discharge  through  ulcerated  cracks  :  this 
constitutes  Grease. 

It  is  contended  by  Mr.  Blain  and  others,  that  "  Grease  has  local 
weakness  for  a  cause.  As  fluids  press,  not  in  proportion  to  their 
diameter,  but  to  the  height  of  their  column,  the  venous  blood 
must  find  some  difliculty  in  its  ascent.  Debility  is  therefore  more 
felt  in  the  distended  vessels  remote  from  the  influence  of  the  heart, 
under  which  circumstance  the  effects  productive  of  Grease  necessa- 
rily ensue." 

Some  horses  are  constantly  the  subjects  of  swelled  legs,  and  if 
the  heels  happen  to  be  accidentally  abraded,  the  latter  often  operates 
as  the  exciting  cause  of  a  very  formidable  affection  of  the  heels. 
Associated  with  the  swelled  legs  is  a  scurfiness  of  the  skin  beneath 
the  fetlock;  these  conditions,  together  with  the  fact  that  the  animal 
is  of  the  lymphatic  temperament,  (gray  color,)  are  sure  indications 
that  a  predisposition  to  maladies  of  the  above  character  is  present. 
Having  such  horses  under  our  cai-e,  the  chief  object  should  be  to 
ward  ofl"  an  attack,  by  dietetic  and  hygienic  measures ;  too  much 
washing  of  the  heels  without  drying  them  by  rubbing,  is  just  about 
as  bad  as  if  the  filth  was  allowed  to  remain  ;  the  practice  chills  the 
part  by  a  process  of  slow  evaporation,  and  the  result  is  local  con- 
gestion, &c. 

I  propose  to  illustrate,  for  the  benefit  of  the  reader,  the  treatment 
of  Grease  : 

July  15th.  Was  requested  to  see  a  gray  gelding,  the  property  of 
the  Transfer  Company  of  St,  Louis.  On  arrival  I  found  him  to  be 
a  large,  flabbily  organized  creature,  having  a  large  amount  of  loose 
tissue  under  the  skin.  I  found  that  there  was  a  bad  odor  arising 
from  sorne  ulcerations  and  exudations  about  the  heels  and  sides  of 
the  same  ;  intermediate  of  the  ulcers  were  dry  horny  scabs,  the  hair 
about  the  parts  pointing  straight  out;  the  heel  was  excessively  ten- 
der, quite  vascular,  and  blood  escaped  from  its  vessels.  The  mo- 
ment a  hand  was  placed  upon  the  locality,  the  animal  would  catch 
up  the  limb  and  appear  to  suffer  miTch  pain. 

Treatment. — In  the  first  place  I  had  the  parts  well  cleansed  with 
3oap  and  water ;  then  after  wiping  the  parts  dry,  they  were  wetted 
three  times  daily  with  a  portion  of  the  following  solution  : 

Nitrate  of  Potass  (Saltpetre) 3  ounces. 

Water 1  pint. 

Glycerine 4  ounces. 

Every  time  the  solution  was  applied,  the  parts  were  dusted  with 
pulverized  charcoal;  this  charcoal  completely  covering  the  abraded 
parts,  and  being  a  good  antiseptic,  had  a  very  excellent  effect  in  ex- 
cluding atmospheric  air  and  in  correcting  the  fetid  odor. 

I  administered  as  an  alterative  to  correct  the  morbid  habit,  twenty 
grains  of  iodide  of  potass  ;  four  drachms  of  sulphur ;  two  drachms 
of  powdered  sassafras  bark ;    one  drachm  of  gentian  ;  these  were 


24  TREATMENT   OF   DI8EASE§ 

mixed  in  food,  and  the  same  quantity  was  given  during  a  period  of 
four  days,  and  the  dressings  were  also  continued. 

On  the  fifth  day  the  animal  had  very  much  improved,  stood  fair 
on  the  foot,  and  seemed  to  suffer  but  very  little  pain  ;  the  limb  was 
somewhat  swollen,  partly  from  want  of  use,  and  otherwise  from  a 
slight  effusion  into  the  cellular  tissue.  I  discontinued  the  medicine 
and  ordered  the  following  mixture  to  be  applied  twice  daily  :* 

Pyroligneous  Acid,    )  , 

Coal  Oil,  [equal  parts. 

After  each  application  the  charcoal  was  reapplied. 

At  the  end  of  about  fifteen  days  the  animal  was  well,  with  the 
exception  of  some  enlargement  and  induration  which  time  alone 
could  remedy. 

This  plan  of  treatment  would  probably  prove  successful  in  all 
curable  cases  of  Grease,  Cracked  Heels,  Scratches,  &c.,  and  I  ad- 
vise the  reader  to  try  it  whenever  such  cases  occur ;  the  patient, 
however,  should  be  kept  on  a  light  diet — green  feed  in  summer  and 
carrots  in  winter — and  a  moderate  supply  of  oats  and  hay. 


MYALGIA. 

Myalgia  signifies  muscular  pain  and  stiffness. 

St.  Louis,  July  26.  I  was  this  day  called  to  examine  a  colt,  the 
property  of  Mi%  P.,  of  this  city.  The  owner  informed  me  the  colt 
was  put  in  a  flour  wagon  with  a  pair  of  mules,  this  being  the  first 
time  he  ever  was  driven  ;  he  was  worked  hard  all  that  day,  and  on 
being  taken  out,  and  while  he  was  under  great  heat,  and  completely 
tired  out,  was  allowed  to  drink  freely  of  water.  The  next  morning 
my  attention  being  called  to  him,  I  proceeded  to  examine  him. 

I  found  the  pulse  small  and  Aviry,  and  in  a  state  of  exhaustion. 
Respirations  somewhat  accelerated  upon  backing  him  out  of  the 
stall ;  he  moved  very  stiff  and  with  difiiculty,  seemingly  in  consid- 
erable pain.  The  back  was  arched,  bringing  the  feet  in  close  prox- 
imity ;  these  were  very  hot,  the  animal  being  very  unwilling  to  move. 

Diagnosis. — Myalgia,  or  muscular  pain. 

Tkbatment. — Gave  by  drench  : 

Iodide  Potass 2  drachms. 

Tincture  of  Golden  Seal 7         « 

Rubbed  his  leers  with  the  foUowins: 


Indian  Hemp,  )  ,        , 


Chloroform, 

July  27.  Called  again  to  see  the  patient  and  found  him  somewhat 
improved,  and  not  in  so  much  pain.  The  stiffness  had  in  considera- 
ble degree  disappeared.    Ordered  his  legs  to  be  rubbed  vviih  the  same 

*  The  Magnetic  Lotion,  prepared  by  Lord  &  Smith,  is  an  excellent  remedy  for  this  complaint. 


PECULIAR   TO   nOKSES.  25 

preparation  which  was  applied  yesterday  morning,  then  gave,  by 

drench : 

Prickly  Ash  Bark 5  drachms. 

Golden  Seal 5 

Iodide  Potass 1         " 

July  28.  Called  to  see  my  patient  this  morning,  and  found  him 
rapidly  improving.  His  walk  was  much  firmer  and  his  general  ap- 
pearance livelier,  I  did  not  consider  his  legs  needed  any  further 
medical  application,  but  I  gave  a  drench  composed  of— 

Golden  Seal 4  drachms. 

Iodide  Potass 1         " 

July  29.  I  found  such  a  decided  improvement  this  morning  that 
I  felt  it  necessary  to  suspend  further  medical  treatment,  and  informed 
the  owner  that  by  turning  him  out  to  grass  he  would  ultimately 
recover. 

Remarks. — Myalgia  is  a  very  prevalent  disease  among  horses,  yet 
it  is  often  confounded  with  plcurodyna,  founder,  rheumatism,  &c. 
In  view  of  giving  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  cause  and  nature  of 
Myalgia,  I  propose  to  make  a  few  extracts  from  a  lecture  lately  de- 
liveretl  by  Thomas  Inman,  M.D.,  of  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Liverpool: 

"  My  attention  has  been  drawn  very  forcibly,  of  late,  to  the  sub- 
ject of  the  muscles,  and  the  frequency  with  which  they  are  painfully 
afiected  in  the  human  subject.  It  is  clear  that  they  are  affected 
much  in  the  same  way  in  the  horse  and  other  animals. 

"  If  any  man  undergoes  an  excessive  amount  of  physical  exertion, 
and  especially  if  he  be  unaccustomed  to  it,  or  if  he  has*  been  the 
victim  of  cramp,  we  know  that  on  the  next  day  he  complains  of 
stifi^ness  and  soreness  in  those  parts  of  the  body  which  have  been 
most  exercised.  Experience  tells  us  that  this  stiffness  lasts  for  about 
four  or  five  days,  but  that  it  goes  off  on  the  first  day  as  the  indi- 
vidual is  again  warmed  to  his  work,  and  comes  on  again  as  soon  as 
he  is  cool. 

*'  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  excessive  or  long  protract- 
ed exertion  will  produce  a  bad  eflect  upon  a  healthy  and  strong 
muscle ;  it  is  equally  certain  that  a  similar  result  will  be  produced 
in  a  weakly  and  unhealthy  muscle  by  a  very  slight  exertion,  because 
that  exertion,  though  seemingly  small,  is  excessive. 

"  If  any  man  or  horse  die  of  tetanus,  we  may  ascertain  readily 
the  physical  effects  produced  on  their  muscles,  by  excessive  and 
prolonged  involuntary  contraction.  The  muscles  of  a  tetanic  patient 
are  pale  looking,  fishy,  bloodless,  spotted,  &c. 

"  From  the  foregoing  particulars  it  is  evident  that  the  muscles,  in 
their  entirety,  were  frequently  the  seats  of  very  severe  suffering; 
and  experience  showed  that  myalgio  affections  were  far  more  com- 
mon than  had  been  supposed.  But  many  patients  had  muscular 
pains  from  doing  the  very  same  things  that  others  had  done  without 
experiencing  anything  disagreable,  and  many  had  myalgia  from 
continuing  to  perform  actions  which  they  had  been  accustomed  to 
do  all  their  lives.     This  had  to  be  accounted  for. 

"A  short  consideration  sufficed  to  state  the  matter  thus:  If  an 
individual,  whose  muscles  are  strong,  experience  stiffness,  pain  and 


26  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

soreness,  from  doing  double  an  amount  of  ordinary  work,  another, 
whose  muscles  are  only  of  half  the  average  strength,  will  have  a 
similar  result  from  doing  hi^  ordinary  work. 

"  The  deduction,  then,  was  inevitable,  that  myalgic  pains  would 
be  common  and  severe  in  direct  proportion  to  the  patient's  debility. 
But  it  is  still  necessary  to  demonstrate,  that  the  muscles  of  various 
individuals  had  vaa-ying  powers ;  and  still  more  important  was  it  to 
show  that  those  of  the  same  individual  varied  in  power  according 
to  circumstances." 

By  trials  of  strength,  &c.,  the  Lecturer  showed,  very  conclusively, 
the  facts  sought  foi*. 


PRICKING  OR  NICKING  HORSES'  TAILS. 

Nicking  Hokses. — The  English  method  of  nicking  horses  is, 
instead  of  inserti7}g  a  knife  and  making  a  subcutaneotcs  section  of 
the  7nnscles  of  the  tail,  known  as  the  depressors,  to  make  three 
straight  incisions  at  equal  distances  right  across  the  tail ;  by  this 
method  the  muscles  of  the  tail  are  effectually  or  completely  divided. 
The  first  incision  is  usually  made  about  two  inches  from  the  root  of 
the  tail,  and  the  other  two  at  equal  distances  from  the  first,  in  a 
direction  towards  the  end  of  the  tail. 

The  tail  is  then  kept  perpendicular,  in  the  usual  manner,  by  pul- 
lies.  It  is  said  that  by  this  method  a  more  graceful  curvature  of  the 
tail  is  secured,  which  I  believe  is  a  flict ;  yet  the  operation  is  any- 
thing but  pleasant  to  the  horse.  It  is  one  of  the  fashionable  barba- 
risms of  civilization. 

The  English  method  of  nicking,  although  the  most  unsightly 
and  barbarous,  is  still  the  safest,  as  there  is  less  liability  to  locked 
jaw.  It  is  well  known  that  locked  jaw  more  frequently  ensues  from 
a  punctured  wound,  than  a  clean  cut  or  incision.  Yet  when  nick- 
ing or  pricking  after  the  American  fashion,  if  care  be  taken  to  make 
the  orifice  through  the  skin  suft^iciently  large,  so  that  the  pus,  after- 
ward secreted,  may  escape,  I  think  there  is  no  danger.  The  danger 
arises  from  imprisonment  of  pus  by  closure  of  the  orifice  in  the 
skin.  In  healthy  subjects  the  orifice  made  through  the  skin  will 
often  unite,  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours  ;  then,  should  morbid  mat- 
ter accumulate  within  the  substance  of  the  tail,  it  burrows,  forms 
an  abscess,  or  else  becomes  absorbed,  producing  locked  jaw. 
Therefore  I  would  advise  persons  having  pricked  or  nicked  horses 
under  their  care,  to  pay  strict  attention  to  such,  and  sec  that  the 
orifices  are  kept  open,  which  may  easily  be  done  by  occasionally 
inserting  the  point  of  a  penknife.  The  skin  should  be  the  last  place 
to  heal.  The  healing  ])rocess  must  be  perfected  in  the  interior  first, 
and  lastly  the  skin.  Should  fungus  or  "proud  flesh"  appear,  apply 
powdered  blood-root,  burnt  alum,  or  red  preci}>itate. 

When  an  abscess  forms  at  the  base  of  the  tail  after  pricking, 
apply  a  poultice  of  flaxseed;  and  when  the  tail  is  much  inflamed 
and  swollen,  it  should  be  bathed  frequently  with  acetic  acid  one 
part,  water  seven  parts  ;  mix. 

When  horses  are  nicked  in  warm  weather,  the  tail  should  be 
moistened  with  tincture  of  aloes ;  this  will  keep  off  the  flies. 


PECUIJAR    TO  HORSES.  27 

J-orsons  who  are  not  experts  in  the  art  of  pricking,  arc  apt  to 
wound,  and  sornctitaes  conipletcly  sever  the  coccygeal  arteries, 
thereby  causing  an  unnecessary  and  dangerous  hemorrhage.  In 
such  cases,  I  sliould  advise  the  operator  to  crowd  into  the  orifice  a 
small  piece  of  dry  sponge ;  this  will  arrest  the  hemorrhage,  and  at 
the  same  time  keep  the  divided  ends  of  the  muscles  apart,  so  that 
they  cannot  reunite;  hence  it  is  not  necessary  to  put  the  tail  into 
puUies  for  some  hours, 'or  until' bleeding  has  ceased;  when  this  is 
the  case,  the  sponge  may  be  removed  by  means  of  a  small  pair  of 
forceps. 

The  success  in  securing  what  is  denominated  a  foshionable  tail, 
depends  altogether  on  the  skill  of  the  operator,  who  must  make  a 
complete  division  of  the  muscles  beneath  the  tail  only,  whose  action 
is  to  compress  and  depress  that  useful  appendage ;  for  -sliould  the 
incision  be  made  too  high  on  the  side  of  th(;  tail,  tiie  cnrvators  may 
be  partly  or  wholly  severed;  then  the  tail  will  ultimately  diverge 
laterally,  or  in  stable  language  it  will  be  said,  ^'- that  the  horse  does 
not  carry  his  tail  straight.''''  To  remedy  this,  the  curvator  on  the 
oppo^;te  side  must  be  divided  ;  then  the  tail  has  to  be  forcibly  drawn 
and  kept  in  an  opposite  direction  from  the  curved  side,  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  muscle  from  reuniting.  In  the  course  of  a  short  time, 
granulations  are  thrown  out  from  the  surface  of  the  divided  ends  of 
the  muscle ;  it  then  acquires  length,  and  ihus  the  tail  becomes 
straight. 

Anatomy  of  the  Tail.  For  the  benefit  of  those  who  wish  to 
practice  the  art  of  "  nicking  or  pricking"  understandingly,  I  now 
propose  to  give  a  brief  exposition  of  the  anatomy  of  the  tail. 

Son.ss  of  the  Tail.  The  bones  of  the  tail  number  fifteen,  some- 
times sixteen,  and  ai'e  situated  at  the  back  of  the  rump  bone  or 
sacrum.  They  are  not  a  continuation  of  the  vertebral  bones,  but 
are  an  ajipendage  to  the  haunch  bone. 

The  bones  entire  are  termed  coccyx  (from  the  Gi'eek,  Avhich  sio-ni- 
fies  cuckoo,  the  bill  of  which  bird  the  appendage  to  the  sacrum,  or 
haunch  bone  of  man,  is  said  to  represent),  and  in  order  to  prevent 
confusion  in  anatomical  terms,  veterinary  surgeons  have  applied 
the  same  name  to  the  tail  bones  of  the  horse  ;  hence,  when  the 
terms  coccygis  or  coccygeal  are  used,  they  have  some  relation  to 
the  tail.  The  bones  are  roughened  on  their  surftices,  have  depres- 
sions and  eminences  for  the  insertion  of  ligaments,  tendons,  and 
muscles. 

Muscles  of  the  Tail.  These  muscles  are  divisible  into  four  pairs. 
They  are  most  distinctly  seen  at  the  root  of  the  tail,  but  in  their 
course  towards  ti\e  end  of  the  same  they  become  blended  one  with 
another. 

First  Pair.  The  first  pair  is  situated  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
tail ;  they  are  attached  to  the  sacrum  and  to  the  bones  of  the  tail, 
Their  action  is  to  raise  or  erect  the  tail. 

Second  Pair  of  Coccygeal  3Iuscles.  These  are  termed  depreS' 
sors  coccyx,  and  are  situated  at  the  under  part  of  the  tail.  They  are 
attached  to  the  underneath  part  of  the  sacnxm,  and  to  the  same 
locality  on  the  bones  of  the  tail.  They  are  antagonistic  to  the  first 
pair,  and  their  direct  action  is  to  depress  the  talk     These  are  the 


23  TEEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

muscles  which  should  be  divided  in  the  process  of  pricking  or 
nicking. 

Third  Pair.  The  third  pair  are  termed  curvators  coccyx.  These 
muscles  are  situated  on  the  sides  of  the  tail,  between  the  first  and 
second  pairs.  They  are  attached  to  the  fourth  and  fifth  lumbar 
vertebrae,  and  to  the  sides  or  transverse  processes  of  all  the  bones 
of  the  tail.  Their  action  is  to  curve  or  flex  the  tail  towards  the 
quarter  and  sides,  and  the  division  of  one  of  these  muscles  causes 
permanent  flexure  of  the  tail  in  an  opposite  direction.  Considering 
the  tail  as  a  means  of  defense  in  switching  ofi"  flies,  &c.,  these  mus- 
cles are  the  principal  ones  called  into  action. 

Fourth  Pair.  The  fourth  pair  are  termed  compressors  coccyx. 
They  are  located  at  the  sides  and  root  of  the  tail,  and  are  inserted 
into  the  back  part  of  the  hip  bones  (ischium),  and  into  the  first  five 
bones  of  the  tail.  The  action  of  these  muscles  is  to  maintain  the 
tail  forcibly  against  the  anus.  In  the  mare  these  muscles  protect 
her  from  ravishment. 

The  Arteries  of  the  Tail  are  termed  coccygeal  arteries.  Those 
located  at  the  sides,  are  ealled  lateral  coccygeal,  and  the  one  found 
in  the  lower  or  inferior  region,  is  so  called — inferior  coccygeal. 

Nerves  of  the  Tail.  As  with  the  muscles,  so  with  the  nerves — 
there  are  four  pair  of  coccygeal  nerves.  They  are  not  a  continua- 
tion of  the  true  spinal  cord,  but  are  given  ofi'  from  it.  They  are 
distiibuted  to  the  muscular  filaments,  to  the  skin,  and  to  the 
extremity  of  the  tail. 


CHRONIC  COUGH  — ITS  TREATMENT,  &c. 

Chronic  Cough  is  often  the  result  of  indiscretion  in  the  treatment 
of  influenza,  distemper,  and  disease  of  the  respiratory  apparatus. 
It  usually  depends  on  a  morbid  and  irritable  condition  of  the  mem- 
brane, found  on  the  interior  of  the  respiratory  passages ;  the  cough 
is  generally  aggravated  by  over-exertion,  especially  when  the  roads 
are  dusty ;  food  of  an  inferior  quality,  and  that  of  a  musty  charac- 
ter, has  the  same  effect. 

It  is  generally  supposed  by  those  persons  who  have  not  had  the 
benefit  of  a  medical  education,  that  the  presence  of  acute,  or  chron- 
ic cough,  indicates  diseased  lungs,  or  disease  in  some  parts  of  the 
organs  of  respiration/  but  this  is  not  always  the  case,  for,  whenever 
the  liver  becomes  diseased,  the  subject  is  very  apt  to  be  tormented 
•with  a  harassing  cough,  which  lasts  as  long  as  that  organ  shall  be 
the  seat  of  disease ;  however,  there  are  several  symptoms,  to  be  ob- 
served in  cases  of  functional  or  organic  disease  of  the  liver,  which 
are  not  present  in  lung  disease ;  hence  there  is  no  difficulty  in  the 
way  of  making  a  correct  diagnosis,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  non- 
professional, I  would  inform  them  that,  in  all  cases  of  liver  disease, 
a  marked  yellow  tinge  will  be  observed  on  the  visible  surfaces 
within  the  mouth;  the  tongue  slightly  coated;  the  dung  is  miusu- 
ally  dark  colored,  and  is  voided  in  hardened  lumps,  and  the  urine 
is  also  of  a  dark  yellow  color. 


PEOULIAB   TO   HORSES.  29 

Teeatment  of  Chronic  Cough. — Should  it  appear  that  the  cough 
is  occasioned  by  irritation,  or  an  irritable  state  of  the  lining  mem- 
brane of  the  respiratory  passages,  I  recommend  the  following: 

Fluid  Extract  of  Indian  Hemp 1  ounce. 

Syrup  of  Balsam  of  Tolou 2        " 

Balsam  Copaiba I        " 

Mix. 

About  a  table-spoonful  of  the  above  should  be  given  twice,  daily, 
from  a  small  bottle. 

The  patient  should  be  coaxed  to  drink  an  infusion  of  linseed  now 
and  then  ;  it  will  lubricate  the  surfaces  with  which  it  comes  in  con- 
tact, lessen  the  cough,  and  tend  to  improve  the  condition. 

Attention  must  be  paid  to  the  Diet.  An  irritable  state  of  the  mu- 
cous surfaces  is  apt  to  be  aggravated  by  the  use  of  hay  of  an  infei'ior 
quality ;  in  fact,  poor  hay,  dusty  or  musty,  is  dear  at  any  price,  and 
is  not,  in  that  condition,  fit  for  food.  If  the  patient  has  been  long 
kept  on  any  particular  kind  of  provender,  a  change  becomes  neces- 
sary— then  such  articles  as  linseed,  sliced  carrots,  green  feed,  or  oat 
straw,  may  advantageously  be  given. 

Should  the  cough  be  dependent  on  disease  of  the  liver,  I  would 
advise  the  owner  of  the  animal  to  consult  a  veterinary  surgeon. 

See  Magnetic  Horse  Powders. 


FISTULOUS  WITHERS. 

Cause  of  Fistulous  Withers. — Various  are  the  causes  assigned, 
by  veterinary  writers,  for  the  origin  of  fistulous  withers;  but  it  may 
be  laid  down,  as  a  general  rule,  that  this  accidental,  local  afiiiction  is 
occasioued  by  local  injury  inflicted  by  a  bad-fitted  collar  or  saddle; 
which,  one  or  the  other,  are  continually  worn,  and  are  constantly 
augmenting  the  irritation.  In  fitting  a  collar  or  saddle  to  a  horse's 
back,  or  shoulders,  the  harness-maker  should  study  the  conformation 
of  the  parts  to  be  fitted,  so  as  to  distribute  an  equal  pressure  on  all 
the  bearing  parts.  Unequal  pressure  is  usually  attended  or  followed 
by  local  injury,  inflammatory  tumor,  and  suppuration ;  and  the  result 
is  "  fistulous  withers." 

Nature  of  Fistulous  Withers. — In  the  first  stage  a  tumor,  or 
inflammatory  swelling,  varying  in  size,  is  observed  in  the  dorsal 
spines,  just  at  the  top  of  the  shoulder  blade ;  it  appears  hot  and 
tender,  and  resembles  a  common  boil ;  after  a  short  time  it  suppu- 
rates, and  then  may  be  considered  as  a  common  local  abscess  ;  soon 
4ihe  matter  accumulates,  and  then  is  apt  to  spread  and  burrow  in 
various  directions,  and  instances  have  occurred  where  the  matter 
has  burrowed  beneath  the  scapula,  and  found  its  way  to  the  point  of 
the  elbow.  The  fistulous  condition,  however,  does  not  exist  until 
the  matter,  by  absorption,  has  created  several  canals,  or  "  pipes,"  as 
they  are  sometimes  called;  the  skin  is  then  also  broken,  and  we  have 
a  real  case  of  fistulous  withers. 

Occasionally  the  matter  becomes  so  acrimonious  and  morbid  that 


30  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

it  acts  on  the  spines  of  the  dorsal  vertebroe,  and  parts  of  thera  un- 
dergo ulceration,  become  detached,  and  finally  have  to  be  removed. 
In  some  cases  of  this  character  the  stench  arising  from  the  same  is 
almost  intolerable,  and  at  times  the  discharge  is  very  copious,  and 
in  running  over  the  shoulders  denudes  the  parts  of  hair,  and  occa- 
sions superficial  sores.  The  acrimonious  and  morbid  condition  of 
such  matter  is  probably  owing  to  a  bad  habit  of  body,  or  vitiation 
of  the  solids  and  fluids,  which  must  be  corrected  by  tonics,  altera- 
tives, and  suitable  diet,  ere  the  disease  can  be  arrested. 

Treatment  of  Fistulous  Withers. — When  the  small  tumor 
(skin  unbroken)  is  first  discovered,  a  cold  water  dressing  is  to  be 
applied,  by  means  of  a  bandage.  I  usually  apply  a  wet  sponge,  and 
confine  it  to  the  spot  with  a  surcingle,  frequently  wetting  the  sponge. 
The  patient  should  be  confined  to  a  light  diet,  and  receive,  in  the 
form  of  drench,  six  drachms  of  nitrate  of  potass  (saltpetre.)  After 
the  lapse  of  twenty-four  hours,  should  this  treatment  fail  to  reduce 
the  tumor,  and  it  has  increased  in  size,  it  may  be  inferred  that  sup- 
puration has  commenced,  and  matter  is  forming  beneath  the  skin. 
So  soon  as  matter,  or  pus,  can  be  detected  (its  presence  may  be 
known  by  the  softening  and  fluctuation,)  I  advise  that  an  opening 
be  made  into  it  at  its  fewest  margin,  and  large  enough  to  admit  of 
a  free  and  complete  discharge  of  its  contents ;  the  cavity  should  be 
syringed  out  two  or  three  times,  with  a  small  quantity  of  fluid  ex- 
tract of  blood-root.  It  is  important  that  this  orifice  should  be  kept 
open  for  several  days,  or  until  the  discharge  has  about  ceased.  This 
is  the  most  rational  method  of  treating  a  case  of  this  character  in  its 
early  stage.  The  same  rule  applies  to  the  treatment  of  all  abscesses 
wherever  situated,  viz.,  whenever  matter  can  be  detected  it  should 
be  immediately  liberated,  lest  contiguous  parts  be  injured. 

In  some  cases,  however,  a  spontaneous  abscess  makes  its  appear- 
ance in  the  upper  region  of  the  shoulder  blade,  and  often  both  sides 
are  the  seat  of  the  same.  They  cannot  be  traced  to  any  local  inju- 
ry, for  I  have  often  known  them  to  occur  in  colts  that  have  never 
been  harnessed ;  therefore  I  term  them  spontaneous.  In  such  cases 
I  have  found  it  best  not  to  be  in  a  hurry  to  open  them,  for  suppura- 
tion is  generally  tardy,  does  not  do  much  damage,  may  depend  on 
morbid  habit  and  morbid  action ;  which  may  be  coiTected  by  a  few 
doses  of  iodide  of  potass  and  golden  seal ;  the  dose  of  the  same  be- 
ing as  follows:  Iodide  of  potass,  fluid  extract  of  golden  seal — four 
drachms  per  day.  The  local  ai^plication  in  view  of  exciting  absorp- 
tion is  composed  of — 

Tincture  of  Iodine 2  ounces. 

Tincture  of  Blood-root 8        " 

Oil  of  Cedar 1       " 

Sulphuric  Ether 1        " 

Mix,  and  rub  into  the  tumefaction  a  portion  of  the  above  twice 
daily.  After  a  few  days'  trial  of  the  above,  if  the  tumor  does  not 
decrease,  but  rather  augments,  the  treatment  must  be  discontinued; 
and  if  it  be  advisable  to  open  the  abscess,  it  can  bo  done  by  moans 
either  of  a  lancet  or  seton.  The  after  treatment  consists  in  cleans- 
ing the  parts,  and  in  securing  an  open  orifice  at  the  lower  part  of  the 
tumor,  which  will  act  as  a  drahi  to  carry  ofl"  the  matter  as  fast  as 


PECULIAR   TO   HOUSES.  31 

it  is  secreted.  I  sometimes  inject,  by  means  of  a  sjTinge,  a  small 
quantity  of  pyroligneous  acid  daily,  wliiuli  acts  both  as  an  astrin- 
gent and  antiseptic. 

In  all  cases  of  fistulous  withers  where  the  bones  are  involved,  or 
fistulous  pipes  run  in  various  directions,  I  advise  the  owner  of  the 
animal  to  secure  the  services  of  a  veterinary  surgeon,  for  it  is  impos- 
sible to  put  on  paper  all  the  information  wJiicli  the  peculiarity  or 
emergency  of  the  case  may  require. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS. 

This  case  will  serve  to  illustrate  my  treatment. 

On  Sept.  'iOth,  I  was  called  to  visit  a  roan  gelding,  the  property 
of  a  gentleman  of  Chicago.  On  arriving  at  the  place  designated  by 
the  owner,  I  found  the  annimal  in  the  following  state: 

Head  hung  down;  tlie  eyes  lacking  somewhat  their  usual  bright- 
ness; respirations  rapid  and  somewhat  laborious;  pulse  quick  and 
strong ;  membranes  of  the  mouth  and  nose  of  a  highly  reddened 
hue;  legs  cold;  slight  cough;  refused  his  feed,  and  would  not  lie 
down,  his  forelegs  standing  wide  apart :  these  were  the  key-notes, 
and  I  accordingly  pronounced  the  disease  Pneumonia. 

Treatment. — I  consider  nursing  to  be  of  very  great  advantage  in 
the  cure  of  disease,  and  I  forthwith  ordered  my  patient  to  be  placed 
in  a  clean  stall,  where  he  might  have  the  advantage  of  inhaling  pure 
air.  I  also  had  his  body  well  clothed.  His  legs  were  freely  rubbed 
with  straw,  and  flannel  bandages  werewound  around  all  four  limbs 
from  the  hoof  up  to  the  knees. 

As  he  was  now  in  the  acute  stages  of  the  disease,  and  highly 
inflammatory  action  being  present,  I  administered  by  dreach  the 
following : 

Aconite 20  drops. 

Water 2  ounces. 

I  then  had  a  thin  bran  mash  placed  before  him,  and  cautioned  the 
hostler  to  withhold  all  oats  and  corn.  Towards  evening  I  gave  him 
by  drench, 

Blood-root 2  drachms. 

and  left  him  for  the  day. 

Second  Day.  Called  and  found  him  in  much  the  same  state, 
although  I  could  perceive  the  respirations  were  not  so  hurried  as  on 
the  day  previous  ;  but  he  retained  the  highly  inflammatory  state,  and 
also  had  a  morbid  thirst  for  water.  I  placed  a  bucket  of  cold  water 
before  him,  first  placing  in  the  water  half  an  ounce  of  nitrate  of 
potass.     I  also  had  his  sides  rubbed  with 

Powdered  Mustard,  )  Mixed  together  so  as  to 

Vinegar,  f          form  a  paste. 

I  took  ofl"  the  bandages,  and  rubbed  his  legs  well  until  I  had  pro- 
duced an  equal  circulation  of  the  blood  all  over  the  parts. 

Third  Day.  Found  my  patient  with  encouraging  symptoms ;  his 
breathing  was  not  so  hard;  pulse  falling;  legs  not  so  cold,  but  he 


32  TREATMENT   OF  DISEASES 

was  beginning  to  show  symptoms  of  debility,  I  therefore  admin- 
istered 

Golden  Seal ,1  ounce. 

Ginger 1  drachm. 

Glycerine 1        " 

The  disease  was  now  bordering  on  the  chronic  state,  and  in  con- 
sideration of  this  fact,  the  treatment  required  was  tonics  and  those 
medicines  in  whose  properties  there  are  agents  which  will  co-operate 
yfiih  nature  in  sustaining  vitality  and  life.  I  left  a  dose  of  the  fol- 
lowing, to  be  given  in  four  hours  after  the  first  dose  which  I  had 
administered : 

Golden  Seal 1  ounce. 

Iodide  of  Potass 15  grains. 

Blood-root 1  drachm. 

Fourth  Day.  This  morning  I  considered  my  patient  a  far  differ- 
ent horse  from  what  he  was  when  I  first  commenced  with  him.  He 
began  to  show  symptoms  of  activity ;  held  his  head  more  erect ;  his 
eyes  appeared  brighter  and  his  legs  were  warmer,  and  his  whole 
appearance  had  undergone  a  great  change,  and  in  a  very  short  space 
of  time.     I  gave  him  a  tonic,  namely : 

Tr.  Golden  Seal 1  ounce. 

and  informed  the  owner  that  I  would  call  in  the  morning. 

Fifth  Day.  After  examining  my  patient,  I  ordered  the  bandages 
to  be  taken  from  his  limbs,  and  had  him  walked  around  in  the  open 
air.  The  owner  then  mentioned  to  me  that  he  thought  he  needed  no 
further  treatment.  This  suggestion  I  complied  with,  and  discharged 
the  case. 

This  is  only  one  of  the  many  cases  which  go  to  show  how  medi- 
cines of  a  sanative  character  will  act  upon  disease,  and  how  few 
take  into  consideration  what  harm  they  are  doing  and  the  small 
amount  of  benefit  the  animal  derives,  when  these  individuals  are 
pouring  an  apothecary's  shop  down  an  animal. 

In  the  above  disease  of  Pneumonia,  care  must  be  taken  as  soon 
the  animal  shows  any  symptoms  of  complaint,  to  place  him  in  a  dry 
clean  stall,  in  which  place  he  has  the  benefits  derived  from  an  un- 
adulterated atmosphere.  Whatever  feed  is  placed  before  him  should 
be  of  a  sloppy  character,  such  as  bran  mashes,  &c.  And  bear  in 
mind  there  are  but  two  conditions,  namely — acute  and  clu'onic,  and 
they  are  to  be  treated  accordingly. 


GUTTA  SERENA  —  {Dilatation  of  the  Pupil.) 

Gutta  Serena,  sometimes  called  "amaurosis,"  consists  of  paraly- 
sis of  the  optic  nerve;  the  diagnostic  symptom,  or  7x:ey  note  of  the 
disease,  is  dilatation  and  fixedness  of  the  pupil  of  the  eye,  and  if  a 
lighted  candle  be  held  to  the  same,  it  does  not  contract  like  the  pupil 
of  an  eye  unaffected. 

The  symptoms  of  this  kind  of  blindness,  independent  of  the  above, 
are  active  muscular  motions  of  the  ears,  and  lifting  the  fore  feet 
higher  than  usual  from  the  ground. 


PECULIAR    TO   HOKSES.  33 

When  Gutta  Serena  comes  on  in  a  sIotv  and  insidious  manner, 
and  has  existed  some  time,  it  is  sure  to  end  in  total  Windness,  but  it 
is  often  a  sympathetic  aftection,  and  subsides  as  soon  as  the  disease 
which  gave  rise  to^it  disappears.  Whenever  the  affection  is  associ- 
ated with  -other  derangements,  a  mixture  of  golden  seal  and  ginger, 
administered  in  two  drachm  doses  once  or  twice  daily,  will  afford 
relief. 


PARTIAL  PARALYSIS  IN  MARES  DURING  THE  PERIOD 
OF  "  HEAT  »  OR  MENSTRUATION. 

My  attention  has  often  been  called  to  3Iares,  the  subjects  of  a 
sort  of  hysterical  affection,  accompanied  by  partial  paralysis  of  the 
hind  extremities.  It  is  quite  common  for  mares  that  are  barren  to  be 
afflicted  with  this  malady,  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  are  often 
the  subjects  of  diseased  ovaries.  I  once  spayed  a  very  valuable 
mare,  a  regular  hysterical  subject,  who, -during  the  menstrual  period 
was  uncontrollable,  yet  was  often  afflicted  with  partial  paralysis  ot 
the  hind  extremities.  The  operation  was  a  perfect  success,  and  the 
mare  was  finally  sold  for  the  sura  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 

Partial  paralysis,  occurring  in  the  male  equine,  is  usually  consid- 
ered as  incurable,  and  I  think  it  is  from  the  fact  that  most  practi- 
tioners resort  to  desperate  means,  in  the  use  of  strychnia,  which, 
when  adminstered  in  popular  doses,  is  better  calculated  to  kill  than 
to  cure  ;  the  patients  often  die,  secundum  artem,  poisoned  by 
Strychnine. 

All  curable  cases  of  partial  paralysis  may  be  benefited  by  the  use 
of  antispasmodics^  which  consist  of  camphor,  Indian  hemp,  asa- 
fcetida,  musk  or  garlic;  and  this  disease,  like  many  others,  is  often 
self-limited.  A  little  patience,  a  small  quantity  of  anti-spasmodic 
medicine,  given  occasionally,  will  accomplish  wonders,  and  often 
save  a  valuable  animal,  which,  when  otherwise  treated,  would  be  sure 
to  die.  As  regards  the  "  male,"  the  affection  is  said  to  bo  the  pro 
perty  of  the  matured  animal,  very  rarely  affecting  colts.  Fast  trot- 
ters, omnibus  horses,  and  animals  subjected  to  extreme  exertion,  are 
most  liable  to  it.  The  disease  in  the  male  is  supposed  to  be  eccen- 
tric, and  therefore  it  is  difldcult  to  say  how  it  will  terminate.  It 
generally  ruins  the  horse. 


"  STIFLE  OUT."  —  [Luxation  of  the  PateUa.) 

The  Patella  of  the  horse,  or  "  Stifle-bone'"'  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  corresponds  to  the  knee-pan  of  the  man,  and  performs  the 
same  office.  The  position  of  the  bone  is  at  the  lower  part  of  Lhe 
femur,  and  upper  part  of  the  tibia.  The  bone  itself  is  kept  in  posi- 
tion by  strong  ligaments,  and  in  consequence  of  the  presence  of  a 
large  prominence  or  condyle  on  the  inner  and  lower  part  of  the 
femur.  Dislocation  inwardly  very  rarely,  if  ever,  takes  place  ;  the 
bone  is,  therefore,  in  case  of  luxation — stijfie  out — found  on  the  outer 
and  lower  part  of  the  thigh. 


34r  TEEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

An  accident  of  the  above  named  character  is  usually  accompanied 
with  much  pain,  and  it  is  with  great  difficulty  that  the  animal  can 
be  urged  to  leave  the  stall ;  the  limb  is  rigid,  and  it  is  a  matter  of 
impossibility  to  get  it  off  the  floor,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the 
stifle  is  thrown  off  its  puUey-hke  articulatory  surface,  and  the  action 
of  the  joint  is  suspended. 

The  liabiUty  to  stifle-out,  or  luxation  of  the  patella^  is  not  so 
great  as  some  persons  would  suppose ;  I  have  seen  but  very  few 
cases  of  the  kind.  Many  times  have  I  been  requested  to  visit  horses 
said  to  have  their  stifle  out,  and  on  making  examination  have  often 
found  them  subjects  of  cramps,  or  spasms,  of  the  flexors;  others 
have  turned  out  to  be  cases  of  foot  lameness,  nail  in  foot,  and  even 
fracture  of  the  pelvis. 

i  So  thai  the  reader  may  not  mistake  a  case  of  this  character,  I 
■vrould  inform  him  that  the  stifle  is  never  out,  unless  the  bone  can  be 
distinctly  felt  and  seen,  per  tumor,  on  the  outer  and  lower  part  of 
the  thigh  bone,  at  the  same  time  the  animal  when  urged  to  move 
does  not  raise  the  limb  but  drags  it  after  him ;  this  accident  can 
easily  be  distinguished  from  a  case  of  spasm  or  cramps,  from  the 
fact  that  w^hen  cramp  sets  in,  the  limb  becomes,  as  it  were,  riveted 
to  the  floor ;  this  condition,  however,  is  peculiar  to  the  cramp  of  the 
flexors,  or  those  muscles  which  are  concerned  in  bendiug  the  affected 
limb. 

;  Means  of  Reducing  Dislocation  of  the  Patella  or  Stifle.  The 
means  of  reducing  dislocation  of  the  patella  are  very  simple.  The 
patella  (stifle-bone),  as  I  have  already  intimated,  will  be  found  on 
the  outer  side  of  the  stifle  joint.  The  person  who  proposes  to 
accomplish  the  reduction  must  with  his  right  hand  (supposing  the 
dislocation  to  be  on  the  near  or  left  limb)  grasp  the  leg  just  below 
the  hock,  and  gradually  raise  it  upward  and  forward  ;  the  left  hand 
should,  at  the  same  time,  embrace  the  stifle  bone,  then  by  joint 
action  of  pressing  the  bone  inwards,  raising  and  extending  the 
limb,  the  stifle-bone  slips  into  its  proper  position,  and  the  reduction 
is  then  effected.  It  will  be  observed  that  at  the  moment  when  the 
stifle-bone  slips  into  its  proper  position,  a  snapping  sound  is  heard, 
like  that  when  the  head  -of  one  of  the  shaft  bones  is  made  to  slip 
into  its  socket.  As  a  precautionary  measure,  it  is  highly  necessary 
that  assistants  should  support  the  animal,  lest  he  fall  and  injure  both 
.himself  and  the  operator. 

j  According  to  the  above  rule,  it  is  a  very  easy  matter  to  reduce  a 
recent  dislocation  ;  and  such  requires  very  little  after  treatment, 
'except  rest,  and  the  application,  occasionally,  of  cold  water. 
I  When  the  stifle-bone  has  remained  unreduced  for  many  hours,  it 
may  be  inferred  that  the  ligaments,  tendons,  &c.,  have  been  so  long 
s-tretched  or  distended  that  they  will  not  immediately  contract,  so 
that  unless  we  adopt  measures  to  prevent  it,  a  re-dislocation  is  very 
apt  to  occur.  To  guard  agahist  this,  a  person  has  to  be  stationed 
so  as  tokeep  a  hand  on  the  stifle-bone,  at  the  same  time  the  region 
of  the  stifle  must  be  constantly  bathed  with  some  astringent.  A 
solution  of  alum  will  answer  ;  sometimes,  however,  it  is  necessary 
to  shave  the  ban-  from  the  part  and  apply  a  strengthening  ])laBter, 
composed  of  pitch,  tar  and  rosin — equal  parts;  these  are  to  be 
melted  in  a  tin  or  iron  vessel,  and  when  the  mixture  is  sufficiently 


PECULIAR   TO    HORSES.  35 

cool  it  may  be  spread  on  the  region  of  tlie  stifle  by  means  of  a  knife 
or  spatula ;  this  is  to  be  covered  with  a  thin  layer  of  wool  or  cotton 
batting, 

*  In  days  of  yore  it  was  ousfcomary  to  apply  the  stifle-shoe,  but  I 
think  the  practice  is  injudicious,  highly  injurious,  and  at  the  present 
period  is  scarcely,  if  over,  advocated  by  men  who  do  their  own 
thinking  and  practice  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  common 
sense. 


BLINDNESS  AMONG  HORSES  — ITS  NATURE  AND 
SYMPTOMS. 

A  great  proportion  of  these  cases  of  blindness  are  the  result  of 
over-fe'eding  ^  our  horses  are  notoriously  fat,  I  do  not  mean  that 
those  now  blind  are  in  this  condition,  but  that  they  were  so  ere 
blindness  set  in  ;  now,  their  digestive  organs  are  the  seat  of  func- 
tional disorder ;  consequently  they  are,  in  this  condition,  more  apt 
to  lose  rather  than  gain  flesh. 

It  is  quite  a  common  practice  among  dealers  to  force  their  horses 
into  a  fat  and  sleek  condition  ere  they  offer  them  for  sale.  Tlie  ani- 
mal undergoes  the  stuffing  process  ;  his  stomach  is  converted  into  a 
grist  mill ;  the  food  (Indian  corn)  is  rich  in  oxygen  or  fat,  contains 
more  of  the  fat-making  principle  than  any  other  article  of  equine 
diet;  and  imder  the  condition  of  rest,  in  warm  city  stables,  adipose 
or  fatty  m:itter  accumulates  very  rapidly,  and  is  stored  up  in  the 
cellular  tissues,  and  as  the  fatty  matter  preponderates,  the  muscular 
structures  degenerate. 

Butchers  are  well  acquainted  with  the  fact  that  very  fat  carcasses 
contain  but  little  meat  or  muscle,  and  even  the  heart  of  a  fat  animal 
often  contains  a  coasiderable  quantitj''  of  fat  globules,  insinuated 
between  its  muscular  fibres.  This  condition  impairs  the  heart's 
function,  and  constitutes  a  disease  known  as  fatty  degeneration. 
This  is  the  effect  which  food,  rich  in  sugar  or  oxygen,  has  on  the 
animal  economy.  Now,  in  this  land  of  plenty,  and  in  this  region, 
which  is  tlie  great  national  bread-basket,  there  is  danger  of  over- 
feeding horses.  In  view,  therefore,  of  preventing  plethora  and 
blindness,  horse  owners  must  dip  a  lighter  hand  into  the  corn  bin. 

Blindness  occurs  as  follows;  "When  blindness  occurs  as  a  func- 
tional disorder,  it  is  often  the  result  of  a  disturbed  sympathetic  rela- 
tion between  the  brain  and  the  stomach ;  and  an  overworked  or  an 
over-distended  stomach  may  not  occasion  any  local  pain,  but  often 
operates  with  that  kind  of  influence  on  the  brain  which  gives  rise  to 
symptoms,  not  stomachic,  but  cerebral.  The  brain  once  aflected, 
then  commences  morbid  action  in  the  eye,  or  eyes,  as  the  case  may 
be,  through  the  operation  or  medium  of  the  optic  nerve,  which  orig- 
inates in  the  base  of  the  brain. 

It  appears  to  me  that  many  of  the  horses  daily  parading  our 
cities,  blind  in  one  or  both  eyes,  must  labor  nndcr  some  peculiar 
predisposition  to  derangement  and  diseases  of  the  organs  of  vision, 
and  whenever  the  ordinary  exciting  causes  (errors  in  diet)  are  ope- 
rative  for  any  length  of  time,  they  develop  a  morbid  condition, 


3o  TKEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

which  might  otherwise  have  remained  latent  dtrring  the  natural 
period  of  the  asamaPs  life. 

It  is  a  well  known  law  of  the  animal  economy,  that  predispositions 
to  various  forms  of  disease  are  transmitted  through  the  sexual  con- 
gress to  offspring,  and  in  the  system  of  the  latter  may  remain  latent 
until  the  conditions  favorable  for  the  development  of  the  constitu- 
tional malady  are  presented,  which  are  nothing  more  nor  less  than 
the  ordinary  exciting  causes  of  disease. 

In  some  parts  of  the  United  States  similar  errors  in  the  fceding^ 
of  horses  produce  blind-staggers,  stomach-staggers,  and  organic  dis- 
ease of  the  brain  •  tliis  goes  to  show  that  in  such  cases  the  animals 
are  more  predisposed  to  cerebral  disease  than  to  disease  of  the 
organs  of  vision. 

In  view  of  preventing  diseases  of  the  above  character,  proper 
attention  must  be  paid  to  the  principles  of  breeding,  and  all  animals 
showing  the  least  symptoms  of  organic  disease  should  be  rejected. 
The  disease  itself  may  not  be  transmitted,  only  a  predisposition 
thereto,  and  this  is  usually  the  ease  when  only  one  of  the  parents  is 
afflicted  ;  when  both  parents  are  the  subjects  of  analogous  predis- 
positions or  maladies,  then  they  appear  in  an  augmented  form  in  the 
systems  of  their  offspring. 

Whenever  an  animal  shows  the  least  symptoms  of  blindness,  he 
should  be  kept  on  a  light  diet  of  hay  and  oats.  Such  horses  can  be 
kept  in  a  perfectly  good  condition  on  twelve  pounds  of  hay  and  five 
pounds  of  oats.  This  amount  is  all  that  is  necessary  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  integrity  of  their  organism ;  all  beyond  this  amount  is 
either  expelled  with  the  excrements  or  stored  ap  in  the  cellular  tis- 
sues of  the  body  in  the  form  of  fat. 

One  of  the  principal  symptoms  attending  incipient  blindness,  and 
one  which  ordinary  observers  might  be  apt  to  notice,  is  the  motion 
of  the  fore  limbs ;  it  will  be  observed'  that  they  are  raised  from  the 
ground  to  an  unnecessary  height,  the  ears,  at  the  same  time,  being 
drawn  forwards  and  backwards  in  quick  succession,  showing  that 
the  animal  is  sounding  the  ground  over  which  he  travels,  after  the 
fashion  of  a  blind  man  with  his  walking-stick,  thus  placing  more 
dependence  on  the  sense  of  hearing  than  on  that  of  sight. 


OPHTHALMIA.     {Inflammation  of  the  Membranes  of  the  Eye.) 

Simple  Ophthalmia  sometimes  appears  very  suddenly,  com- 
mencing with  swollen  eyelids,  and  a  highly  reddened  state  of  the 
membranes  which  line  the  same,  as  well  as  of  that  which  covers  a 
portion  o-f  the  eyeball;  scalding  tears  run  down  the  cheeks,  and  the 
animal  avoids  light.  There  arc  several  other  diseases  peculiar  to  the 
eye,  most  of  them  of  an  organic  character,  and  incurable,  hence,  I 
shall  not  trouble  the  reader  with  any  remarks  on  such  subjects. 

Treatment  of  Inflammation  of  the  Eye. — The  treatment  is 
very  simple ;  bathe  the  forehead  and  region  of  the  eyes  very  fre- 
quently with  cold  water,  keep  the  patient  in  a  dark  corner  of  the 


PECULIAK   TO   HORSES.  37 

Stable,  feed  liim  on  isloppy  mashes,  and  give  him  four  tJrachms  of 
nitrate  of  potass,  night  and  morning,  for  a  few  days. 

Should  the  animal  manifest  symptoms  of  much  pain,  take  one 
■ounce  of  laudanum,  one  draehm  of  glycerine,  and  three  ounces  of 
rain  water — manage  to  introduce  a  irortion  of  the  same  two  or  three 
times  per  day  wilhin  the  eyelids;  then  dissolve  half  a  pound  of 
Glauber  salts  in  two  quarts  of  water;  when  dissolved,  stir  in  about 
two  quarts  of  bran  ;  set  the  same  before  the  animal  and  he  will  eat 
St.  Should  this  fail,  at  the  expiration  of  twelve  hours,  to  relax  the 
bowels,  repeat  the  dose.  This  simple  plan  of  treatment  usually  suc- 
ceeds in  restoring  the  healthy  condition  of  the  paxts. 


SORE  MOUTH. 

Sore  month  or  e:s:coriation  is  often  produced  by  damaged  fodder, 
■such  as  musty  clover,  &c. ;  at  other  times,  the  angles  of  the  mouth 
become  sore  by  an  unwarrantable  use  of  the  check-rein,  and  from 
irritation  produced  by  the  bit. 

Teeatmext. — First  remove  the  cause,  and  then  swab  tiie  mouth 
by  means  of  a  sponge,  twice  daily,  with  a  portion  of  the  following  : 

Powdered  Alum 2  ounces. 

Glycerine 1      " 

Water 1  quart 

Mix. 


LAMPAS. 

Lampas  consists  of  tumefaction  of  the  palate,  or  bars  of  th-e 
anouth.  Most  young  horses  are  observed  to  have  Lampas,  and  some 
persons  have  an  idea  that  it  occasions  loss  of  appetite  and  many 
other  ills;  but  such  is  not  the  ease.  All  that  is  necessary  to  do,  is  to 
make  use  of  some  astringent  lotion,  composed  of  alum  and  water, 
and  feed  a  few  bran  mashes. 

Formerly  it  was  considered  necessary  to  cauterize  the  palate,  but 
this  is  an  unnecessary  and  barbarous  practice. 


EXCORIATED  MOUTH  FROM  SHARP  TEETH. 

Oecasionally  the  outer  edges  of  the  grinders  become  sharp,  from 
aneven  wear,  and  produce  irritation  on  the  inner  membrane  of  the 
cheeks.  When  the  irritation  is  confined  to  one  side,  the  head  of  the 
animal  deviates  from  a  direct  line,  and  as  the  saying  is,  he  carries 
his  head  towards  his  side;  when  both  sides  are  affected,  the  animal 
will  often  drop  food  from  his  mouth,  and  it  will  be  evident  that  the 
act  of  mastication  occasions  pain.  The  remedy  is  a  tooth  rasp: 
the  sharp  edges  must  be  rasped  smooth- 


38  TREATMENT  OF   DTSEISES 

APHTHA     {Thrush  in  the  3Iouth.} 

Aphthae  is  a  very  common  affection  among  horses  in  the  spring 
and  autumn ;  it  consists  of  tumefaction  of  the  tongue  and  lips,  and 
the  appearaiice  of  little  tumors  and  vesicular  eruptions  within  and 
aiound  the  mouth — the  latter  being  hot  and  infiaraed.  The  disease 
aifects  the  general  health,  for  the  functions  of  the  body  are  de- 
ranged \  the  animal  appears  dull,  and  will  often  refuse  to  partake  of 
food. 

Tkeatmext. — Keep  the  patient  on  a  diet  of  gruel,  or  sloppy  brar^ 
mashes,  and  bathe  the  mouth  several  times  daily  with  a  portioa  oi 
4he  following: 

Pyroligneous  Acid , 3  ounces. 

Water 1  quart. 

Mix. 
If  the  acid  cannot  be  procured,  substitute  the  following : 

Borax 2  ounces. 

Honey 1  gill. 

Watei- . . .  -^.  ^ * ..  ^X  ^uartu 


EPIZOOTIC  APTHA. 

"  This  disease  is-  commonly  known  as  the  foot  and  mouth  com- 
plaint. It  is  a  febrile  and  highly  contagious  disease,  readily  com- 
municable to  different  species  of  animals,  and  for  this  reason  is. 
designated  a  panzootic  affection. 

"Although  it  is  met  with  in  the  horse,  hare,  pig,  &q.,  yet  it  is  most 
commonly  noticed  in  the  ox  and  sheep,  in  which  animals  it  occurs  as 
a  vesicular  eruptioii,  breaking  o-ut  op  the  gums,  lips,  teats,  and 
around  the  coronary  surface  of  the  hoof. 

"In  this  disease  the  ox  exhibits  the  following  symptoms:  suspen- 
sion of  rumination,  constipation,  great  flow  of  saliva  from  the  mouthy 
and  severe  lameness. 

"Milk  obtained  from  apthous  cows  should  never  be  drunk,  as  it  i» 
very  likely  to  produce  a  similar  disease  in  the  human  subject.  To- 
prove  this  fact,  Hertwig,  together  with  Villain  and  Hann,  drank  the 
warm  milk  of  an  apthous  covv^  and  the  resrdt  was  that  lihey  all  be- 
came subjects  of  the  severe  inflammation  of  the  throat,  associated 
with  vesicular  eruptions.  Professor  Simons  gave  warm  milk  taken 
from  aii  apthous  cow  to  young^  pigs,  and  in  each  case  ajjtha  resulted. 

"Epizootic  aptha  spreads  amongst  sheep  as  a  consequence  of  actual 
contact  with  the  virus,  which  is  deposited  on  the  pasture  by  ona  and 
taken  up  by  another,  either  through  the  medi'um  of  the  mouth  or 
digits,  and  by  this  means  a  whole  flock  soon  becomes  affected. 

"  Tkeatmknt.— Wash  the  mouth,  lips  and  teats  with  suTphurie 
acid  and  water,  half  an  ounce  of  the  former  to  a  pint  of  the  Tatter,  and 
the  feet  with  equal  parts  of  hydrocloric  acid  and  water ;  and  admin- 
ister, daily,  nitrate  of  potash  and  chloride  of  sodium,  of  each  three 
ounces.     If  the  udder  becomes  affected,  or  induration  of  the  teat 


PECULIAK  TO  HOESES.*  39 

supervenes,  warm  fomentations  must  be  constantly  applied  to  the 
Dart,  and  a  tube  should  be  put  up  the  teat,  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
escape  of  milk." 


SPASMODIC  COLIC,  AND  ITS  TREATMENT. 

Spasmodic  Colic  is  a  disease  of  very  frequent  occurrence  among 
horses,  and  in  view  of  giving  the  readers  of  this  work  some  definite 
ideas  of  its  seat,  nature,  and  treatment,  I  introduce  the  following 
as  the  result  of  my  experience. 

The  appellation  of  colic  is  usua^y  given  to  abdominal  pain,  as  it 
occurs  ill  the  intestines  of  horses;  it  is,  however,  a  very  dilterent 
condition  from  that  known  as  inflammation  of  the  intestines,  yet  the 
former  often  merges  into  the  latter.  Spasmodic  colic,  therefore, 
consists  of  a  morbid  contraction  of  the  muscular  fibres  of  some  part 
of  the  intestinal  tube,  accompanied  by  pain,  and  constitutes  what  is 
generally  called  "  stoppage." 

The  small  intestine  is  the  usual  seat  of  spasmodic  colic ;  and  dis- 
sections show  irregular  contractions  and  shortenings  of  the  intes- 
tines, accompanied  by  engorgements.  A  few  remarks  on  the  struc- 
ture of  the  intestines,  will  enable  the  reader  to  understand  how, 
and  by  what  means,  the  spasmodic  action  takes  place. 

The  intestinal  tube  of  the  horse,  which  is  about  ninety  feet  in 
length,  is  composed  of  three  coats.  The  Jirsty  or  external,  is  the 
peritoneal ;  a  tunic  or  covering,  which,  after  having  famished  a 
smooth,  glistening  lining  to  the  interior  of  the  whole  abdominal 
cavity,  is  reflected  over  the  intestines  and  gives  to  them  a  complete 
covering,  identical  with  that  which  they  are  constantly  in  contact 
with.  The  second  coat  is  composed  of  muscular  fibres  of  two 
orders,  one  running  longitudinally,  the  other  circular.  Should  con- 
traction occur  in  the  longitudinal  fibres,  the  bowel  is  proportionally 
shortened ;  when  it  occurs  in  the  circular  fibres,  the  calibre  of  the 
intestines  is  decreased,  and  sometimes  in  severe  spasm,  complete 
stricture  of  the  part  takes  place  ;  this  I  have  known  to  continue 
even  after  death,  when  it  was  found  diflicult  to  pass  a  small  tube 
through  the  contraction.  The  reader  will  perceive  that  if  contrac- 
tion of  both  these  orders  of  fibres  should  occur,  the  intestines  will 
present  a  knotted  appearance.  The  third,  or  inner  coat  of  the  intes- 
tines, is  of  a  villous,  or  rather,  mucous  character  ;  its  sui-face  is 
adapted  for  secretion  and  absorption — thus  by  means  of  its  lacteals, 
alimentary  and  other  matters  are  imbibed  or  absorbed  and  conveyed 
into  the  general  circulation.  By  means  of  an  innumerable  number 
of  small  glands,  a  fluid  is  secreted,  which  finds  its  way  to  the  surface 
of  the  mucous  membrane,  and  there  operates  to  prevent  mechanical 
irritation,  which  may  follow  the  administration  of  drastic  cathartics 
and  poisons,  or  may  result  from  the  action  of  indigestible  food,  such 
as  bad  hay,  straw,  corn-stalks,  &c. 

Now  the  question  arises — by  what  means  is  spasm  of  the  bowels 
produced  ?  The  ordinary  cause  is  the  application  of  a  stimulus  or 
agent,  which  calls  into  activity  the  contractile  power  of  the  involun- 
tary muscular  fibres  of  the  intestines.  It  may  follow  the  act  of  im- 
bibing a  quantity  of  cold  water ;  or  may  result  from  the  presence  of 


4:0  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

something  within  the  intestinal  tube,  thei'e  generated,  such  as  an 
acid  or  an  alkali ;  generated  in  consequence  of  a  morbid  condition 
of  the  salivail  or  tlie  gastric  fluids,  and  from  the  presence  of  worms. 
But  spasm  of  the  bowels  is  produced  more  easily  by  a  peculiar  stim- 
ulus conveyed  through  the  nerves  which  are  connected  with,  and 
supply  nervous  force  to  those  muscles  at  the  seat  of  spasm.  I  wish 
the  reader  to  understand  that  it  does  not  matter  much  whether  the 
stimulus,  which  occasions  the  state  of  spasm,  be  applied  to  the  ex- 
ternal or  internal  surfaces ;  for  it  is  well  known  that  horses  of  a 
peculiar  nervous  temperament  when  heated  by  exercise  and  then 
driven  into  water,  will  occasionally  be  attacked  with  cramp  or  spasm, 
and  even  locked  jaw ;  and  locked  jaw  is  a  disease  of  the  same  class 
and  order  as  spasm  of  the  bowels,  only  located  in  a  diflerent  part  of 
the  body.  The  reason  why  external  and  internal  stimuli  act  pre- 
cisely alike  to  produce  spasm,  in  the  predisposed  subject,  is  because 
the  ultimate  nerve  fibres  have  a  similar  distribution  on  external  as 
well  as  internal  surfaces. 

This  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  nervous  system,  of  a  two-fold 
character,  appears  to  be  a  wise  aiTangement :  First,  it  brings  the 
psychical  endowments  of  animals  into  relation  with  the  external 
world  and  its  influences;  informing  them,  through  the  medium  of 
the  organs  of  sensation,  of  the  changes  whieli  take  place  under  con- 
ditions of  the  atmosphere  known  as  "heat  and  cold"  ;  and  in  their 
undomesticated  state,  the  conscious,  or  instinctive  tnind  receives  an 
instructive  lesson  and  acts  accordingly,  so  as  to  guard  against  dan- 
ger. Secondly,  an  impression  made  on  the  internal  surface  of  the 
intestines,  reacts  through  its  nervous  and  motor  apparatus,  precisely 
as  if  applied  to  the  external  surface  of  the  body,  and  excites  or 
arouses  voluntary  and  involuntary  action  and  spasm,  as  the  case  may 
be,  purely  on  the  principle  of  self-preservation,  and  of  resisting  in- 
juries when  threatened. 

Treatment. — To  one  ounce  of  fluid  extract  of  lobelia  add  three 
drachms  of  sulphuric  aether;  mix  this  in  a  small  quantity  of  sweet- 
ened water,  and  drench  the  patient  with  the  same :  the  lobelia  and 
jEther  act  as  anti-spasmodics,  and  tend  to  relax  the  spasm  of  the 
bowels. 

Then  take  two  ounces  of  fluid  extract  of  lobelia,  two  quarts  of 
warm  water,  and  throw  the  same  into  the  rectum  by  means  of  a 
syringe. 

Should  the  above  treatment  not  relieve  the  animal,  I  should 
ffitherize  him,  and  apply  a  stimulating  liniment  to  the  abdomen,  and 
after  the  animal  recovers  from  the  efix?cts  of  the  aether,  a  few  drops 
more  of  lobelia  will  do  him  no  harm;  yet,  if  he  is  relieved,  the  med- 
icine should  be  dispensed  with. 


FLATULENT  COLIC. 

Flatulent  Colic  is  the  result  of  derangement  of  the  digestive  or- 
gans :  the  food,  without  being  properly  digested,  runs  into  fermenta- 
tion, and  generates  gas  within  the  stomach  and  iutesLiaes. 


PECULIAK   TO   H0K8ES.  41 

The  malady  is  easily  recognized  from  the  fact  that  the  abdomen 
is  distended,  and  if  the  walls  of  the  same  be  struck,  a  windy  sound 
is  elicited  ;  and  it  will  be  noticed  that  gas  escapes  from  the  anus, 
and  sometimes  from  the  mouth. 

The  animal  is  usually  in  great  pain,  and  will  tumble  about  in  the 
stable,  roUing  from  side  to  side,  in  view  of  obtaining  relief. 

Treatment. — The  principal  object  to  be  accomplished,  is,  first,  to 
give  tone  to  the  stomach,  and  arouse  the  digestive  function,  so  as  to 
put  a  stop  to  fermentation ;  this  accomplished,  the  animal  is  almost 
sure  to  recover. 

In  this  view  I  recommend  the  following : 

Powdered  Ginger 1  ounce. 

"  Golden  Seal 1     " 

Carbonate  of  Soda 4  drachms. 

Warm  Water ...» 1  pint. 

Mix  ;  and  drench  the  animal  with  the  same. 
The  next  best  remedy  is : 

Fluid  Extract  of  Ginger 1  ounce. 

«  "        of  Golden  Seal 1     " 

Carbonate  of  Soda 4  drachms. 

Warm  Water ^  pint. 

Mix ;  and  drench. 
After  administering  the  medicine,  throw  into  the  rectum  enemas, 
composed  of  Avarm  water  and  common  salt. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  hours  the  animal  will  get  relief;  if  he 
should  grow  worse,  repeat  the  dose,  and  lubricate  the  abdomen  with 
stimulating  liniment. 


BRONCHOCELE. 

Bronchocele  is  a  very  common  affection  among  horses ;  the  mal- 
ady is  known  to  veterinary  surgeons  as  enlargement  of  the  thyroid 
glands;  the  enlargement  is  sometimes  the  sequel  of  epizootic  and 
enzootic  affections,  and  it  often  accompanies  the  affection  known  as 
sore  throat. 

Treatjvxent. — Give  the  patient  twenty  grains  of  iodide  of  notass 
daily,  which  may  be  dissolved  in  the  water  which  is  otiered  him, 
and  rub  the  swellings  daily  with  a  small  quantity  of  tincture  of 
iodine,  or  if  the  3Iagnetic  Liniment  can  be  procured,  use  it. 

Should  the  above  treatment  fail,  give  the  patient  a  few  doses  of 
the  Magnetic  Horse  Powders.     (See  Magnetic  Horse  Powders.) 


BRUISE  OF  THE  SOLE. 

Bruise  of  the  sole  of  the  foot,  is  the  consequence  of  the  animal 
treading  on  a  stone  or  rail  iron ;  the  result  is,  extravasation  of  blood 
within  the  articulatory  surfaces  of  the  sensitive  and  insensitvie  lami- 
nae; the  accident  is  almost  always  sure  to  result  in  lameness. 


42  TEEATMENT  OF  DISEASES  "  "" 

Treatment. — Keep  the  foot  constantly  wet  with  cold  water; 
excuse  the  animal  from  duty,  and  give  him  a  chance  to  breathe  pure 
air ;  have  patience,  and  the  horse  will  soon  get  well. 

Should  the  patient  appear  to  suffer  much  pain,  give  him  twenty 
drops  of  tincture  of  aconite  every  four  hours,  until  relief  is  obtained ; 
and  feed  him  on  bran  mashes,  allowing,  at  the  same  time,  a  small 
quantity  of  hay,  in  view  of  distending  the  stomach  to  a  healthy 
capacity. 


CORNS  IN  HORSES.     «iVb  Foot  no  Rorse:' 

A  horse  the  subject  of  corns  is  expected  to  have  defective  feet, 
hence  the  above  quotation  is  "  true  as  gospel," 

That  peculiar  disease  occurring  within  the  inner  quarter  of  the 
fore  feet  of  horses,  known  as  corn,  is  a  very  different  affection  from 
that  peculiar  to  the  feet  of  man.  In  horses,  corn  is  neither  more  nor 
less  than  extravasation,  which  signifies  escape  of  blood  from  it? 
proper  vessels  into  the  surrouaiding  tissues  of  the  part.  This  extra- 
vasation or  escaped  blood,  finally  coagulates,  and  creates  a  black 
spot,  known  as  the  "  corn-spot";  this  is  exposed  on  paring  the  sole 
at  its  inner  quarter.  All  blood  which  escapes  in  this  way  become? 
as  a  foreign  body,  yet  in  some  parts  of  the  system,  where  the  ab- 
sorbent vessels  are  very  numerous  and  active,  the  foreign  deposit  is 
soon  removed  by  the  ordinary  process  of  absorption ;  but  within  the 
dense  tissues  of  a  horse's  foot  this  process  is  tardy,  sometimes  im- 
possible, consequently,  matter  or  pus  is  generated  between  the 
sensitive  and  non-sensitive  parts,  and  a  passage  must  finally  be  cre- 
ated for  the  liberation  of  the  imprisoned  matter  ]  for  it  cannot  escape 
through  the  dense  structure  composing  the  hoof  itself;  hence  it  bur- 
rows and  migrates  in  various  directions  from  the  sole,  and  lastly 
creates  an  outlet  at  the  inner  and  upper  part  of  tne  hoof,  where  the 
matter  escapes. 

Treatment  of  Corn. — The  only  chance  of  relieving  the  aniraa) 
is  to  remove  the  shoe  and  apply  one  having  a  slight  concavity  at  the 
former  seat  of  pressure;  or  if  the  animal  has  a  prominent  frog,  the 
bar-shoe  can  be  attached;  previous  to  doing  so,  however,  the  corn- 
spot  can  be  slightly  pared,  and  whenever  there  appears  to  be  any 
pressure  on  the  sole  at  the  quarters,  the  shoe  must  be  removed  and 
adapted  as  above.  The  theory,  therefore,  in  the  treatment  of  corn, 
is  to  secure  a  vacancy  between  the  heel  and  the  shoe. 

If  tho  horse  happens  to  be  "  dead  lame,"  and  tenderness  and 
swelling  are  observed  at  the  upper  part  of  the  hoof,  the  part  maj 
then  be  punctured  with  a  lancet;  after  squeezing  out  the  imprisoned 
matter,  the  part  should  be  dressed,  daily,  with  fir  balsam.  In  some 
cases  of  suppurated  corn  the  matter  must  be  liberated,  by  making 
an  opening  through  the  sole  of  the  inner  quarter;  this  is  also  to  be 
dressed  with  fir  balsam ;  the  shoe  to  remain  off  for  a  few  days. 


PECULIAK   TO   HORSES.  42 

CRIBBING  OR  CRIB-BITING. 

"Is  Cribbing  a  Disease?" — I  answer  that  it  is  not.     It  is  not 

injurious  to  the  horse  that  practices  it,  and  the  Court  of  Appeals 
have  px'onounced  in  favor  of  its  innocuousness.  CriVjbing  comes 
under  the  denomination  of  a  bad  habit  or  vice,  which,  hke  other  bad 
habits  or  vices,  is  both  inherited  and  acquired :  it  prevails  mostly 
among  horses  of  a  windy  or  coUcky  pre<lisposition.  Yet  any  horse 
with  a  bad  example  near  him,  in  the  form  of  a  confirmed  cribber, 
and  having  but  little  to  do  except  to  devour  hay  and  grain,  may 
finally  become  a  cribber;  hence,  horses  like  men,  are  not  benefited 
by  keeping  bad  company. 

I  am  willing  to  admit  that  cribbers  are  not  always  in  the  best  con- 
dition, although  some  of  them  have  but  little  to.  do  and  plenty  to  eat ; 
in  fact  many  such  animals  aj^pear  lank  and  lean,  yet  it  will  be  no- 
ticed that  they  almost  always  have  a  bulky  abdomen,  which  is  gen- 
erally occupied  by  gas;  this  gas  is  not  swallowed  in  the  act  of  crib- 
bing, as  many  persons  suppose,  but  is  generated  within  the  stomach 
and  intestines, in  consequence  of  functionalderangement  of  the  diges- 
tive organs ;  hence,  in  plain  language,  most  cribbers  may  be  coh' 
sidered  as  the  subjects  of  a  most  prevalent  and  fashionable  malady, 
known  to  prevail  among  the  members  of  the  human  species,  called 
indigestion  or  dyspt  psia. 

The  following  paragraph  I  select  from  Mr.  Percival's  writings, 
which  is  more  authoritative  than  anything  I  may  possibly  offer: 

"  In  general,  crib-biting  ought  rather  to  be  regarded  as  a  vice  oi 
habit  than  a  disease;  the  latter  I  have  never  been  able  to  regard  it. 
Horses  that  are  old  crib-biters  present  the  inconvenience  of  being 
faulty  feeders — they  require  a  great  deal  to  satisfy  them,  and  those 
which  generate  air  in  their  stomachs  are  very  subject  to  attacks  ol 
windy  colic." 

Finally,  a  crib-biter  often  grows  poor,  not  because  he  is  a  cribber, 
but  for  the  simple  reason  that  in  his  dyspeptic  condition  the  diges- 
tive organs  fail  to  elaborate  from  the  food  the  requisite  amount  oJ 
chyme,  chyle  and  blood,  for  the  renovation  and  growth  of  the  ani- 
mal fabric. 


CEREBRAL  APOPLEXY. 

The  following  case  will  illustrate  the  pathology  of  the  disease: 
I  was  requested  a  short  time  ago  to  visit  an  animal  the  subject  oi 
cerebral  apoplexy. 

Position  op  the  Animal. — The  position  very  clearly  indicated 
disease  of  the  brain,  for  he  stood  as  if  in  the  act  of  forging  forwards, 
with  his  head  against  the  sides  of  the  crib,  and  it  was  with  con- 
siderable difficulty  that  he  could  be  made  to  "back,"  and  when 
once  out  of  the  z'.Jl  he  manifested  unsteadiness  as  when  attacked 
with  staggers. 

Noticeable  Symptoms. — The  pulse  at  the  angle  of  the  jaw  could 
scarcely  be  felt,  showing  a  feeble  action  of  the  heart ;  limbs  and 
ears  rather  chilly ;  the  nasal  membranes  of  a  leaden  or  bluish  cast. 


44  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

On  turning  up  one  of  the  eyelids,  it  appeared  highly  congested, 
presenting  a  uniform  brown  reddish  tinge,  occasioned  by  obstruction 
in  the  capillaries  and  a  highly  carbonized  state  of  the  blood.  The 
respirations  were  tubulous  and  slightly  stertorous,  which  signifies 
that  the  lungs  were  not  properly  inflated,  respiration  being  princi- 
pally carried  on  in  the  passages  which  lead  to  the  lungs.  Stertorous 
signifies  snoring,  the  act  of  inspiration  being  accompanied  with  a 
sort  of  snoring  sound. 

On  observing  the  flanks  the  respiration  appeared  labored  and 
quickened,  which  led  some  persons  present  to  infer  that  the  animal 
had  lung  fever ;  but  on  applying  my  ear  to  various  parts  of  the 
region  of  the  chest,  I  became  satisfied  that  the  lungs  were  healthy, 
and  therefore  pronounced  the  case  as  one  of  cerebral  apoplexy,  as  it 
proved  to  be.  The  flank  movements,  therefore,  were  of  a  purely 
mechanical  or  auxiliary  character. 

Peognosis. — Prognosis,  which  signifies  foreknowledge  of  the 
course,  event,  or  termination  of  disease,  is  sometimes  impossible 
to  foresee,  and  as  regards  this  case,  which  appeared  to  be  mild  in 
the  beginning,  I  was  unwilling  to  predict  an  issue,  or  rather  to  foretell 
the  event  of  the  malady. 

The  difiiculties  in  the  way  of  predicting  with  any  degree  of  cer- 
tainty, were  as  follows  :  1st,  The  animal  was  young  and  had  always 
enjoyed  perfect  health,  never  having  shown  the  least  predisposi- 
tion to  disease  in  any  form.  2nd,  Two  days  prior  to  the  attack,  he 
had  been  driven  a  long  distance,  and  on  arriving  at  his  quarters  ap- 
peared merely  fatigued,  and  the  groom  noticed  that  his  excrement 
was  coated  with  slime,  and  from  these  circumstances  we  might 
rationally  infer  tbat  the  digestive  organs  were  deranged  ;  hence  the 
brain  difficulty  might  possibly  be  of  a  sympathetic  character;  and  if 
80,  the  patient  might  recover. 

I  therefore  informed  the  owner  of  my  patient,  that,  if  the  disease 
was  merely  functional,  he  might  expect  recovery ;  if  otherwise,  the 
disease  being  organic,  death  would  surely  ensue. 

Treatment  and  Teemination  of  the  Case. — I  administered 
difi'usible  stimulants  by  tlwi  mouth  and  rectum,  applied  counter 
irritants  compo&ed  of  turpentine,  oil  and  ammonia;  the  limbs  were 
rubbed  with  wisps  of  straw  and  then  enveloped  in  flannel ;  the  region 
of  the  cranium  (which  was  very  hot)  was  bathed  with  cold  water. 
Reaction  took  place,  and  the  animal  appeared  more  lively;  the  sur- 
face of  the  body  regained  its  normal  temperature,  and  to  all  appear- 
ance the  condition  of  the  patient  was  many  removes  from  that  of  a 
dying  creature ;  but  alas  for  human  calculation  !  all  at  once  he  was 
seized  with  convulsions  and  suddenly  died. 

Autopsy. — On  removing  a  triangular  piece  of  the  cranium  (scull) 
and  its  membrane,  the  superficial  vessels  of  the  brain  appeared 
highly  congested  ;  on  puncturing  the  pia  mater  (the  membranous 
covering  proper  of  the  brain),  serum,  or  water,  exuded,  indicating 
dropsy  of  the  brain,  and  a  quantity  of  dark  colored  or  highly  car- 
bonized blood  escaped,  showing  very  conclusively  that  the  cause 
of  his  sudden  death  was  rupture  of  a  blood  vessel  in  the  brain. 


k  PECULIAK    TO    HOESES.  ^^ 

ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  SPLEEN. 

A  short  time  ago  I  visited  a  black  gelding,  aged  nine  years ;  he 
had  shown  some  symptoms  of  illness  for  several  days,  being  rather 
dull  and  weak  in  his  legs. 

On  examination  the  following  symptoms  were  noticed:  pulse  quite 
feeble;  respiration  natural;  tongixe  coated  with  a  brown  secretion; 
mouth  hot,  and  a  foetid  odor  from  the  same  is  perceptible;  the  visi- 
ble surfaces  of  the  mouth  are  pale,  yet  have  a  yellow  tinge ;  the 
nasal  membranes  are  of  a  leaden  hue  ;  the  head  droops  and  the  tips 
of  the  ears  are  chilly;  the  patient  is  rather  unwilling  to  move,  and 
when  urged  to  do  so,  exhibits  a  staggering  gait ;  the  bowels  are  lax 
(the  excrement  appearing  like  cow  manure,)  and  the  owner  of  the 
animal  informs  me  that  the  urine  is  scanty  and  dark  colored. 

Percussion  over  the  region  of  the  liver  (on  the  right  side,)  elicits 
an  unusual  dull  sound,  indicative  of  a  diseased  liver ;  on  percussing 
the  left  side  in  the  region  of  the  spleen,  a  solid  sound  is  elicited, 
and  an  evident  enlargement  of  the  spleen  is  perceptible. 

Twelve  hours  after  this  examination  the  animal  died. 

Record  op  the  Autopsy. — On  opening  the  abdominal  cavity, 
the  spleen  was  found  to  occupy  a  very  large  space ;  it  was  of  im- 
mense proportions,  and  weighed  nearly  twelve  pounds  {the  ordinary 
weight  is  three  pounds) ;  it  presented  the  appearance  of  a  spleen  in 
the  chronic  stage  of  disease — excessively  enlarged  and  altered  in 
structure;  it  was  of  a  pitchy  black  color,  and  was  surcharged  with 
blood. 

The  liver  appeared  to  be  much  enlarged,  hardened,  and  discolored, 
and  on  cutting  into  it,  various  small  tubercular  deposits  were  ex- 
posed ;  all  the  other  organs  appeared  to  be  healthy.  A  case  of  this 
kind  is  always  beyond  the  reach  of  art — incurable. 

Remarks  ok  the  Spleex. — The  spleen,  known  to  butchers  as 
the  milt  or  inelt^  is  a  spongy  substance,  located  on  the  left  side,  be- 
tween the  stomach  and  the  false  ribs.  It  presents  a  blue  mottled 
appearance  externally ;  internally,  it  is  dark  colored. 

Its  internal  surface  is  concave,  by  which  arrangement  it  is  per- 
fectly adapted  to  occupy  a  locality  of  the  stomach  which  in  form  is 
convex. 

The  spleen,  like  other  organs  within  the  abdomen,  receives  a  cov- 
ering from  the  peritoneum,  and  when  this  covering  is  stripped  off, 
we  discover  a  body  soft,  lacerable  and  spongy. 

It  is  supposed  that  the  spleen  does  not  perform  any  secretory 
function,  and  physiologists  have  hitherto  failed  in  detecting  any 
excretory  vessel,  or  duct.  In  these  respects  it  differs  from  all  other 
glands  of  the  body  ;  in  fact,  having  neither  secretory  nor  excretory 
vessels,  it  cannot,  with  propriety,  be  classed  as  a  gland. 

The  anatomy  of  the  spleen  is  as  follows  :  It  is  furnished  with 
arteries,  from  the  cseliac  ;  the  easliac  terminates  in  the  splenic,  and 
the  splenic  furnishes  the  spleen  with  blood  (the  "  caeliac"  arises  from 
the  abdominal  aorta) ;  and  these  arteries,  after  being  dispersed  within 
the  substance  of  the  spleen,  find  innumerable  ramifications,  and 
ultimately  terminate  in  cells  of  a  membranous  character ;  from  this 


i6  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

cell  arrangement  springs  innumerable  venous  radicles.  The  spleen 
being  very  spongy,  and  porous,  is  capable  of  undergoing  great  dis- 
tension, without  danger  of  rupture  ;  in  fact,  it  sometimes  acquires 
an  enormous  size,  without  loss  of  continuity.  The  spleen  is  deli- 
cately organized  with  nerves,  and  presents  an  intricate  net-work  of 
absorbents ;  the  nerves  of  the  spleen  are  given  off  from  the  cffiliac 
plexus. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  spleen  does  not  perform  the 
functions  just  alluded  to,  it  is  a  very  important  organ,  and  serves  as 
a  diverticulum  to  the  liver;  when  thus  employed  it  tends  to  prevent 
congestion  of  the  liver. 


BIG-HEAD  AND  BIG-JAW. 

Preliminary. — The  terms  big-head  and  big-jaw  are  used  by 
husbandmen  and  others  in  Ohio,  and  indeed  throughout  the  great 
West  and  South,  to  designate  a  disease  of  the  bony  structure  of 
the  horse,  a  disease  about  which  very  little,  of  a  reliable  character, 
has  ever  been  said  or  written.  Yet  the  subject  is  one  of  great  im- 
portance to  the  people  of  this  country,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the 
evil  is  one  of  alarming  proportions,  and  should  the  disease  multiply 
In  a  ratio  equal  to  that  of  the  few  past  years,  it  will  be  a  terrible 
blow  to  the  laudable  and  hitherto  profitable  enterprise  of  raising 
colts,  in  sections  v\"here  this  disease  prevails. 

I  do  not  wish  to  create  any  unnecessary  alarm,  but  I  urge  the  hus- 
bandmen of  the  South  and  South -West,  to  give  this  subject  their 
earnest  consideration;  for  the  disease  probably  has  an  heredi- 
tary origin — "is  inbred,"  and  that,  as  the  saying  is,  "constitutes 
the  root  of  the  evil,"  and  the  disease  having  been  pronounced  incura- 
ble, our  only  hopes  of  success  in  putting  a  stop  to  its  propagation 
and  development,  is  to  adopt  preventive  measures  by  rejecting,  as 
breeders,  all  animals — sire  and  dam — that  show  the  least  predisposi- 
tion to  or  for  this  affection.  Let  the  reader  understand  that  the 
disease  itself  is  incurable,  in  so  far  as  the  enlargement,  dilatation, 
and  softening  of  the  jaw  bones  is  concerned;  yet  like  spavin,  ring- 
bone and  various  other  diseases,  it  is  accompanied,  in  certain  stages, 
by  lameness,  and  our  services  as  physicians,  are  only  secured  in  view 
of  removing  this  lameness,  so  that  the  animal  may  be  enabled  to 
perform  the  ordinary  equine  duties;  this  is  what  some  pei'sons  please 
to  term  a  cure,  whereas,  it  almost  always  happens  that  some  altera- 
tion in  the  structure  of  the  parts  remains,  which  actually  renders  the 
horse  unsound,  because  he  has  that  about  him,  which  may  from  over- 
work, or  other  exciting  causes,  impair  his  usefulness. 

As  regards  the  "alarming"  features  of  big-head  or  big-jaw,  I 
would  inform  the  reader,  that  almost  every  lame  horse,  examined  by 
me  during  a  period  of  six  months,  had  either  one  or  the  other  of  the 
jaws  enlarged;  in  some  cases-  one  angle  of  the  lower  jaw  was  the 
seat  of  thickening  and  enlargement,  but  among  the  majority  both 
angles  were  affected.* 

*  These  remarks  do  not  apply  to  other  obvious  or  accidental  lamenesses  which  are  also  constantly 
occurrinj;. 


PECULIAIt   TO   HOESES.  47 

A  sliort  time  a!:;o,  I  visited,  in  company  with  a  practicint^  veteri- 
narian, vi'hosc  attention  had  never  been  called  to  this  affection,  three 
horses,  the  subjects  of  lameness,  which  was  said  to  be  occasioned  by 
eating  Hungarian  grass:  to  the  astonishment  of  the  parties  con- 
cerned,! demonstrated  that  they  were  all  the  subjects  of  enlargements 
of  the  lower  jaws,  and  from  the  history  of  the  cases  and  the  charac- 
ter of  the  lameness,  it  was  very  evident,  that  it  was  of  an  articular 
character,  and  this  is  a  peculiar  feature  of  this  affection.  Then  again 
the  reader  must  bear  in  mind,  that  the  jaws  of  animals  do  not  dilate 
nor  enlarge  suddenly,  nor  make  appearance  all  at  once,  like  a  meteor 
in  regions  of  space;  the  affection  is  insidious,  progresses  in  an  almost 
imperceptible  manner,  and  usually  escapes  the  notice  of  those  who 
daily  have  charge  of  and  handle  the  animal,  as  the  following  case, 
which  is  selected  from  among  many  others,  will  serve  to  illustrate : 

About  eighteen  months  ago  a  gentleman  purchased  what  then  ap- 
peared as  a  line  family  horse,  a  sorrel  gelding,  aged  five  years.  About 
the  beginning  of  March,  one  year  after  the  purchase,  in  attempting 
to  walk  the  animal  from  one  stable  to  another,  but  a  short  distance 
off,  he  became  suddenly  lame  in  one  of  the  hind  limbs — low  down 
towards  the  foot — and  it  was  found  almost  impossible  to  urge  him 
forward;  finally  assistance  was  procured,  and  the  animal  had,  literal- 
ly, to  be  carried  into  a  stable.  My  services  having  been  secured,  I 
visited  the  sufferer,  and  found  him  standing  on  three  legs,  the  near 
bind  one  being  placed  resting  on  the  toe ;  the  parts  around  the  coro- 
net were  hot,  and  the  patient  was  very  unwilling  to  have  the  part 
handled;  he  seemed  to  suffer  mu(;h  pain,  was  breathing  hnriiedly, 
and  the  pulsations  were  quick  and  wiry ;  the  near  approach  of  any 
person  seemed  to  terrify  the  animal,  and  he  actually  trembled  from 
fear  and  pain,  when  ordered  to  move.  On  making  an  examination  of 
the  jaws,  I  found  that  both  angles  of  the  lower  jaw  were  enlarged 
to  about  two  inches  in  thickness ;  this  explained  the  nature  of  the 
sudden,  and  otherwise  mysterious  lameness;  the  articulating  sur- 
faces of  various  bones,  and  the  bones  themselves,  had  become  dis- 
eased, as  is  often  the  case  in  big-jaw.  The  owner  assured,  me  that 
the  horse  had  never  before  been  lame,  and  he  was  very  much  sur- 
prised to  find  the  lower  jaw  enlarged.  Hero  the  reader  will  perceive 
that  the  animal  had  been  in  Mr.  VV^.'s  possession  one  year,  had  per- 
formed ordinary  labor,  yet  was  the  subject  of  a  gradual  enlargement 
of  the  jaw,  and  a  constitutional  disease,  which  probably  existed,  yet 
in  a  slight  degree,  at  the  time  of  ])urchase;  hence  I  contend  that  the 
disease  in  its  early  stages  is  of  a  hidden  or  insidious  character,  and 
requires  some  tact  and  knowledge  of  the  subject  iu  order  to  de- 
tect it. 

Nature  of  the  Disease. — Big-head  and  big-jaw,  are  but  one 
form  of  disease,  only  located  in  different  parts.  When  the  upper 
one  becomes  the  seat  of  affection,  an  enlargement  of  the  facial  bones 
will  be  observed,  and  the  examiner's  attention  will  be  attracted  by 
the  unnatural  appearance  of  the  face;  as  the  disease  progresses,  the 
face  looks  more  like  that  of  an  elephant  than  of  a  horse,  and  now 
the  disease  being  incurable,  the  subject  should  mercifully  be  put  out 
of  liis  misery.  The  enlai'gement  of  the  lower  jaw  is  discovered  by 
manipulation. 


48  TEEATMENT    OF   DISEASES 

On  removing  the  skin  from  the  sides  of  the  face  of  such  a  subject, 
and  dissecting  the  muscles  and  periosteum  (covering  of  bone),  th^ 
bones  appear  to  have  undergone  a  softening  process,  and  particles 
can  be  separated  by  means  of  the  finger  nails;  at  the  same  time  if  a 
transverse  section  of  any  of  the  shaft  bones  be  made,  they  will  be 
found  to  have  imdergone  structural  changes;  for  example,  thpy  will 
not  only  appear  softened  but  honey-combed,  and  many  of  the  laminae 
and  cartilaginous  braces  will  have  been  decomposed  or  dissolved,  so 
that  the  bone  looks  like  fibrous  net  work.  In  most  cases,  the  vacui- 
ties and  canals  are  filled  with  material  resembling  soft  cheese,  which 
is  probably  fatty  matter;  this  occasionally  degenerates  into  pus. 

Dr.  Gordon  forwarded  me,  some  time  ago,  the  head  of  a  horse 
who  had  long  been  the  subject  of  this  malady.  The  transverse  di- 
ameter of  the  bones  of  both  upper  and  lower  jaw,  was  very  much 
enlarged ;  the  periosteum  was  very  highly  organized  with  bloodness ; 
the  bones  were  softened  and  elastic,  and  could  be  easily  cut  with  a 
knife.  On  submitting  them  to  the  acid  test,  earthy  matter  was  found 
in  excess,  and  by  burning  them,  it  was  found  that  they  contained 
very  little  animal  matter;  hence  I  was  led  to  infer  that  the  disease 
is  one  of  mal-nutrition. 

The  articular  surfaces  of  various  bones,  and  sometimes  all  the 
bones  of  the  body,  are  often  ulcerated  and  studded  with  incrusta- 
tions; this  explains  the  why  and  wherefore  of  the  sudden  and  tor- 
menting pains  which  animals  suffer,  and  goes  to  show  how  little  of 
benefit  can  be  expected  from  the  ordinary  treatment,  which  is  prin- 
cipally directed  to  the  enlarged  jaws. 

On  removing  these  diseased  cartilages  from  the  articulating  sur- 
faces of  bones,  the  latter  are  found  to  be  affected — in  fact,  ulcerated. 
In  some  cases  the  ligaments  and  tendons  are-separated  by  decompo- 
sition or  necrosis  of  bone,  and  the  animal  "breaks  down,"  as  the 
saying  is. 

The  subjects  of  this  disease  sometimes  show  lameness  in  the  ver- 
tebral region,  and  in  that  of  the  head  of  the  thigh  bone;  in  such 
cases  we  may  safely  infer  that  the  lameness  is  of  an  articular  char- 
acter, and  the  inter- articular  cartilages,  as  well  as  the  surfaces  of 
the  bones,  are  incrustrated  and  ulcerated;  in  this  condition  the  ani- 
mal is  liable  to  become  useless,  "or  break  down"  at  any  moment. 
The  following  briefcase  will  illustrate  what  is  meant  by  "  breaking 
down:" 

I  was  requested  a  short  time  ago  by  Prof.  Muzzy  to  examine  an 
aged  gray  gelding,  the  subject  of  lameness  in  the  near  bind  foot; 
examination  revealed  considerable  heat,  tenderness  and  tumefaction 
around  both  the  hind  coronets,  and  both  angles  of  the  lower  jaw 
much  enlarged  in  their  trans^-erse  diameters.  I  advised  the  owner 
to  let  the  animal  have  a  run  at  grass;  accordingly  he  was  sent  into 
the  country,  about  thirty  miles  (which  was  too  long  a  journey  for 
him);  a  few  days  afterwards  Prof.  Muzzy  received  a  letter,  stating 
that  the  horse's  strings  (tendons)  became  loose,  that  he  broke  dow'n 
and  traveled  on  his  fetlocks,  and  was  then  dead.  I  infer  that  necro- 
sis took  place  and  the  extensor  tendons  lost  their  attachment,  wliich 
accounted  for  his  "breaking  down." 

Prof  Varnell  lately  consulted  Dr.  Harley  of  London  in  reference  to 
this  formidable  malady,  which  is  said  to  have  been  almost  unknown 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  49 

in  England  until  November,  1859,  when  several  cases  occurred  among 
some  horses,  the  property  of  Mr.  Champion  Calcot,  near  Reading. 
Three  of  this  gentleman's  animals  had  died,  a  fourth  was  not  ex- 
pected to  live  many  days,  and  two  others  were  laboring  under  the 
same  disease,  in  a  less  acute  form.  The  most  singular  feature  of 
the  disease,  as  it  appeared  on  the  premises  of  Mr.  Calcot,  were,  that 
it  did  not  appear  to  owe  its  origin  to  any  perceivable  cause,  and  it 
was  not  known  to  be  prevalent  in  any  other  part  of  England.  Still, 
my  opinion  is  that  it  does  exist  in  that  country,  only  not  being  sus- 
pected is  not  sought  for.  It  prevails  very  extensively  among  horses 
brought  to  Ohio,  and  hundreds  of  horses  are  purchased  for  the 
American  army  in  the  course  of  a  few  months,  having  more  or  less 
enlargement  of  the  lower  jaw,  yet  I  do  not  belive  that  either  seller 
or  purchaser  suspects  the  same.  This  arises  from  a  lack  of  know- 
ledge on  the  subject,  and  the  same  remarks,  so  far  as  our  ignorance 
of  the  subject  is  concerned,  may  apply  to  England. 

In  answer  to  questions  put  to  Mr.  Calcot  on  the  subject  of  man- 
agement, &c.,  he  contends  that  the  aifected  animals  had  plenty  of 
exercise;  there  were  no  chemical  factories  or  works  in  the  vicinity; 
one  horse  aifected  was  pin-chased  at  a  distance,  the  rest  had  been 
bred  on  his  farm;  the  sires  and  dams  all  appeared  free  from  the  dis- 
ease, and  they  were  not  all  got  by  the  same  sire;  the  food  consisted 
of  good  grass,  hay,  j^ollard,  oatmeal  and  roots:  other  horses  were 
on  the  farm,  fed  in  the  same  manner  as  the  affected  ones,  yet  they 
had  no  symptoms  of  the  disease  (perhaps  they  will  show  symptoms 
when  the  jaws  shall  ha  examined — they  may  have  the  disease,  yet 
not  be  lame  or  apparently  ailing.)  Mr.  Calcot  never  saw  a  case  of 
the  kind  before.  From  the  above  testimony,  we  may  infer  that  the 
causes  of  this  affection  are  not  yet  discovered  in  England,  but  my 
impression  is,  that  overfeeding  has  a  good  deal  to  do  in  the  produc- 
tion of  the  malady. 

It  appears  to  me  that  this  disease,  as  I  have  already  written,  is 
one  of  mal-nutrition  or  defective  nourishment ;  hence,  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  scorbutic  affection,  like  that  affecting  the  human  sub- 
ject, which  is  known  to  be  the  result  of  faulty  nutrition,  and  which 
often  results  in  division  of  bony  parts  which  were  once  immovable — 
the  epiphysis  of  the  pelvis  for  example — also  in  the  separation  of 
cartilages  from  the  ribs,  and  the  shaft  bones  softened  and  ruined  by 
caries,  ulceration  or  death  of  bones. 

Name  of  the  Disease. — Big-head  and  big-jaw  are  terms  suffi- 
ciently explicit  in  ordinary  conversation ;  but  in  view  of  scientific 
inquiry  it  is  necessary  to  employ  terms  indicative  of  the  pathology 
of  the  disease.  We  cannot  expect,  however,  to  select  any  one 
name  that  shall  apply  to  all  the  pathological  conditions,  during  the 
rise,  progress  and  termination  of  this  peculiar  malady  ;  the  condition 
of  the  bones,  are  :  a  state  of  enlargement,  softening,  and  degenera- 
tion of  the  same.  The  disease  is  known  to  veterinary  surgeons  as 
osteo-porosis. 

Cause  of  the  Disease. — I  have  already  informed  the  reader 
that  the  disease  may  have  an  hereditary  origin ;  otherwise,  I  can- 
not accmmt  for  its  universal  prevalence,  in  certain  localities,  under 
the  ordinary  modes  of  feeding  and  general  management.     I  grant 

4 


50  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

that,  at  first,  the  disease  might  have  had  an  accidental  or  spontane- 
ous origin,  and  finally  become  permaoient  and  transmissible  ;  for 
example,  glanders  and  farcy  afford  illustrations  of  a  spontaneous 
disease  becoming  contagious  aiid  transmissible.  There  must  have 
been  a  time  when  neither  of  the  two  latter  diseases  existed  ;  hence, 
when  the  first  subject  became  glandered  he  could  not  have  taken  it 
by  infection  or  by  contagion,  but  it  must  have  had  a  spontaneous 
origin,  and  filially,  became  permanent. 

I  do  not  pretend  to  urge  that  the  active  disease  itself  is  transmis- 
sible, yet,  in  certain  cases,  a  predisposition  is  transferred  to  the 
progeny.  This  may  be  called  tJie  predisposing  cause ;  the  ordinary 
exciting  causes  are  those  which  disturb  and  derange  the  digestive 
function.  The  digestive  or  nutritive  function  is  deranged,  both  by 
excessive  and  defective  functional  labors,  or  by  the  animal  existing 
on  food  that  does  not  contain  the  necessary  amount  of  nitrogenous 
or  muscle-making  matter.  This  is  the  case  when  Indian  corn  is 
used  as  food  for  a  great  length  of  time;  it  is  hard  to  digest,  is  defi- 
cient in  nitrogen,  and  almost  always  over-distends  the  stomach  ;  for, 
when  submitted  to  the  action  of  heat  and  the  gastric  fluids,  it  in- 
creases in  bulk  to  about  six  times  its  original  capacity.  I  have  no- 
ticed that  where  much  whole  corn  is  fed,  as  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  the 
disease  is  most  prevalent. 

Associated  with  the  predisposing  and  exciting  causes,  are  others  : 
for  example,  hard  usage,  sore  abuse,  and  bad  stable  management. 

This  disease  is  rarely  ever  heard  of  in  England,  and  this  may 
be  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  food  there  furnished  to  horses  is 
rich  in  phosphates  and  nitrogen,  while  corn  contains  more  of 
starchy  matter ;  which,  instead  of  furnishing  material  for  the  prepa- 
ration of  muscular  or  animal  matter,  merely  furnishes  that  which  is 
consumed  in  the  process  of  respiration. 

TREA.TMENT  OF  THE  DisEASE. — The  Ordinary  treatment,  as  prac- 
ticed by  some  persons,  is  to  bore  into  the  jaw-bone  and  inject  the 
same  with  some  corrosive  poison;  others  expose  the  jaw-bone,  and 
saw  out  a  section  of  the  same ;  some  persons  blister,  or  apply 
preparations  of  iodine.  Such  treatment,  I  think,  only  tends  to  create 
unnecessary  irritation  and  pain,  and  cannot  possibly  be  of  any  ben- 
efit, for  I  contend  that  the  disease  is  not  local,  but  constitutional; 
and  the  reader  will,  probably,  after  perusing  this  article,  come  to  the 
same  conclusion. 

The  disease  has  extensive  ramifications  in  various  parts  of  the 
bony  fabric,  and  therefore  the  local  treatment  must  fail  in  curing  the 
malady.  Cases  may  arise  which  require  surgical  operations,  and  if 
so,  I  have  no  objections  to  offer. 

I  have  often  been  told  that  horses,  after  having  all  sorts  of  bar- 
barities practiced  on  them,  have  recovered  ;  this,  so  far  as  the  treat- 
ment is  concerned,  is  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the  old  error. 
"  He  got  well  after  taking  my  medicine  ;  therefore,  in  consequence 
of  taking  it."  This  is  assuming  a  falsehood  as  a  fact,  and  then  giving 
fanciful  reasons  for  it. 

In  view  both  of  prevention  and  cure  of  this  organic  disease  ot 
the  bones  and  their  articulations,  more  is  lo  be  accomplished  by 
regimen  than  by  medicine.  'J'he  animal  should  alwa\  s  be  ])rovidcd 
with  wholesome  diet,  and  whenever  green  vegetables  can  be  ob- 


PECULIAE   TO  HORSES.  51 

tained,  they  should  be  fed  liberally,  or,  what  is  much  better,  provided 
the  season  permits,  let  the  animal  roam  in  a  pasture. 

Whenever  I  have  a  case  of  this  kind  under  treatment,  I  furnish 
apples,  beets,  carrots,  cabbages,  or  any  other  kind  of  vegetable  that 
I  can  procure,  and  I  find  that  such  articles  are  usually  devoured 
with  a  good  relish.  The  object  in  feeding  green  food  is  to  combat 
the  scorbutic  diatheses  which  usually  exists. 

The  patient  should  also  be  allowed  from  five  to  seven  quarts  of 
oats  per  day. 

When  a  horse  with  enlargement  of  the  lower  or  upper  jaw  is 
suddenly  attacked  with  acute  lameness,  he  should  be  placed  in  a 
Avide  stall,  and  the  parts  where  the  lameness  appears  to  be  located, 
as  well  as  the  jaws,  should  be  diligently  rubbed,  twice  daily,  with  a 
portion  of  the  following  : 

Spirits  of  Camphor  6  ounces. 

Cod  Liver  Oil 4       " 

Oil  of  Cedar 2       « 

Diluted  Acetic  Acid 1  pint. 

Mix. 
Then  procure  the  following : 

Chlorate  of  Potass 2  ounces. 

Powdered  Ginger 4       " 

"          Gentian  8       « 

«         Podophyllum 2       « 

"         Poplar  Bark 6       " 

Mix. 
-  Dose :  one  oimce  night  and  morning,  to  be  incorporated  with  the 
food. 

This  treatment  usually  palliates  the  lameness.  Should  it  not  do 
so,  the  owner  must  be  patient  and  give  nature  time  to  restore  the 
animal  to  comparative  usefulness. 


TETANUS. 

PRELiinNARY. — Two  cascs  of  Tetanus  having  lately  occurred  in 
my  practice  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  both  terminating  favorably, 
I  have  thought  that  I  could  not  do  a  belter  service  to  the  readers  of 
this  work  than  to  give  them  the  facts.  The  treatment  was  so  simple 
that  any  one  might  undertake  the  same  feat,  and  I  think  that  such 
treatment  is  more  likely  to  be  successful  than  the  old-fashioned 
method.  So  far  as  my  experience  goes,  I  am  satisfied  that  we  are 
apt  to  do  too  much  (over-medicate)  in  this,  as  well  as  in  other 
diseases;  and  it  often  happens  that  the  recuperative  powers  of  na- 
ture have  to  contend,  not  only  with  the  original  malady,  but  also 
with  one  of  a  medicinal  character,  created  by  over-dosing ;  and  per- 
haps this  is  the  reason  that  has  led  some  veterinary  writers^o  con- 
tend that  "  tetanic  affections,  arising  in  consequence  of  a  punctured 
wound,  are  almost  always  sure  to  prove  fatal.'''' 

Nature  of  Tetanus. — Tetanus  must  not  be  confounded  with 
trismus,  or  locked  jaw,  yet  the  former  may  run  into  the  latter,  and 


52  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

does  really  belong  to  the  same  class  and  order.  Tetanus  is  charac- 
terized, however,  by  the  same  rigidity  of  various  muscles  of  the 
body,  yet  at  the  same  time  the  jaws  are  not  lock^^d,  the  animal  has 
not  lost,  entirely,  the  power  of  swallowing,  can  drink  and  eat  a  little 
and  take  medicine;  whereas,  in  complete  locked  jaw,  the  spasm  ex- 
tends to  the  muscles  of  the  pharynx,  rendering  it  impossible,  while 
the  spasm  lasts,  for  the  patient  to  swallow. 

Tetanus  is  supposed  to  depend  on  irritation,  directly  or  indirectly, 
of  the  excito-motor  system  (true  spinal  cord.)  If  this  be  true,  and  I 
have  no  reason  to  doubt  it,  then  all  surgical  operations,  in  view  of 
removing  the  cause,  are  not  only  useless,  but  injurious,  for  the  mal- 
ady has  migrated  beyond  the  reach  of  the  surgeon's  knife.  I  now 
introduce  a  brief  report  of  the  "  cases." 

Case  1.  March  1,  1862,  I  was  requested  to  visit  a  bay  gelding, 
aged  eight  years,  the  property  of  Captain  Silva.  The  messenger 
informed  me  that  the  animal  was  "  all  stiffened  up."  On  arrival  I 
noticed  the  following  spraptoms :  On  applying  my  hand  over  the 
region  of  the  neck,  the  muscles  felt  hard  and  rigid ;  the  eyes  had  a 
sort  of  squinting  appearance ;  the  nose  protruded ;  the  ears  were 
erect  and  stationary  ;  the  nostrils  were  expanded  to  their  utmost 
capacity;  the  head,  neck  and  trunk  appeared  quite  rigid,  so  that  it 
was  impossible  to  coax  or  compel  the  animal  to  turn  "  short  round," 
— in  other  words,  describe  a  circle  ;  the  abdomen  appeared  "tucked 
up,"  in  consequence  of  a  rigid  condition  of  its  walls  ;  the  hind  limbs 
were  straddling,  and  the  fore  ones  occupied  a  forward  position,  an- 
terior to  the  axis  of  the  shoulder-blade ;  the  bowels  were  constipated ; 
the  pulse  wiry,  and  the  respirations  accelerated  and  laborious. 
These  symptoms  constitute  the  key-note  of  the  malady.  I  might,  if 
I  felt  disposed,  entertain  the  reader  with  an  elaborate  article  on  the 
regular  veterinary  craftsman's  theory  of  the  progressive  symptoms ; 
but  the  intelligent  reader  will  infer  that  as  the  disease  progresses, 
the  symptoms  multiply  and  vary,  therefore  it  is  not  good  policy  for 
me  to  introduce  secondary  symptoms,  for  they  only  tend  to  obscure 
the  real  nature  of  the  disease. 

Treatment, — I  rubbed  the  neck  and  back  with  a  portion  of  the 
following: 

Cod  Liver  Oil 1  pint. 

Oil  of  Cedar 4  ounces. 

Sulphuric  Ether 3      " 

The  parts  were  rubbed  once  daily  for  a  period  of  ten  days.  Dur- 
ing this  time  the  animal  got  four  drachms,  night  and  morning,  of 
the  Fluid  Extract  of  Indian  Hemp  ( Cannabis  Indicxcs).  The  horse 
was  located  on  the  Bellefontain  road,  ten  miles  from  the  city,  conse- 
quently I  did  not  see  him  as  often  as  I  wished;  but  a  faithful  servant 
had  charge  of  the  horse,  and  I  think  he  paid  proper  attention  to  my 
directions. 

At  the  end  of  three  weeks  all  symptoms  of  Tetanus  had  entirely 
disappeared.  The  disease  was  occasioned  by  a  punctured  wound  in 
the  near  fore  foot. 

June  0,  1862.  Capt.  S.  this  day  brought  my  patient  to. the  city 
for  treatment  for  atrophy  of  the  muscles  of  the  shoulder  (commonly 
known  as  sweeney.)     The  muscles  of  the  shoulder-blade,  known  as 


PECULIAR   TO    IIOESES.  53 

the  Antea  and  Postea  Spinatus,  arc  completely  wasted  away,  so  that 
the  spine  of  the  shoulder-blade  and  the  Lead  of  the  humerus  are  un- 
naturally prominent,  on  the  7iear  side.  The  animal  is  still  under 
treatment,  and  appears  to  be  doing  well. 

Case  2.  Mr.  Wells,  residing  on  Madison  street,  in  this  city, 
requested  me.  May  25,  to  visit  a  horse,  tlie  subject  of  Tetanus.  I 
was  informed  that  the  aaimal  had  accidentally  "  picked  up  a  nail ;" 
the  nail  had  been  withdrawn,  and  the  part  was  dressed  by  a  black- 
smith. On  making  an  examination  of  the  case,  the  symptoms  were 
about  the  same  as  those  observed  in  case  No.  1.  I  treated  the  pa- 
tient on  the  same  general  principles, — administered  Indian  Ifempy 
and  lubricated  the  surface  of  the  body  with  the  same  kind  of  lini- 
ment. In  the  course  of  fourteen  days  the  animal  had  so  far  recov- 
ered that  I  left  him  to  the  care  of  the  proprietor. 


TYPHOID  PNEUMONIA. 

The  following  will  illustrate  the  nature  of  the  disease  and  mode 
of  treatment : 

Recorded  Symptoms  of  the  Disease. — On  the  4th  of  March  my 
attention  was  called  to  three  horses  brought  here  by  Mr.  C,  of  and 
from  Indiana.  As  their  symptoms  were  precisely  similar,  I  shall  only 
describe  those  of  one — a  fine  stallion  aged  eight  years :  he  stood 
with  his  head  pendulous,  his  fore  limbs  wide  apart,  and  from  the 
period  of  his  arrival,  three  days,  had  not  made  any  attempt  to  lie 
down.  His  respirations  were  much  quickened;  expiration,  accom- 
panied by  a  sort  of  subdued  grunt,  indicative  of  pain,  and  showing 
that  the  lining  membrane  of  the  cavity  of  the  chest  was  involved  in 
the  disease.  The  pulse  was  quick,  yet  feeble,  showing  that  the  ani- 
mal was  somewhat  prostrated,  and  had  actually  been  sick  for  many 
days,  although  the  owner  thought  differently.  The  visible  surfaces 
of  the  mouth  presented  a  very  peculiar  appearance,  although  not 
unusual  in  a  disease  of  this  character.  They  were  of  a  light  ma- 
hogany color,  and  the  lining  membrane  of  the  nostrils  was  of  a 
light  leaden  hue.  Auscultation  and  percussion  practiced  over  the 
thoracic  region,  revealed  tubular  respiration ;  also,  that  the  chest 
was  occupied  by  a  considerable  quantity  of  water ;  the  breath  had 
a  bad  odor,  and  the  patient  had  no  relish  for  food,  and  most  of  the 
time  he  was  in  a  state  of  stupor.  These  were  the  most  noticeable 
symptoms  at  the  period  of  my  first  visit.  On  questioning  the  owner, 
he  admitted  that  all  three  of  the  horses  appeared  a  little  dull,  were 
weak — easily  fatigued — and  through  very  little  exertion  would  sweat, 
and  their  appetite  was  not  good. 

This  is  the  case  with  most  typhoid  affections  :  they  begin  without 
any  warning  other  than  slight  dullness,  weakness,  and  some  disturb- 
ance of  the  digestive  organs,  and  it  is  only  when  typhoid  pneumonia 
becomes  seated  on  the  lungs,  as  shown  by  difficult  respiration  and 
other  physical  signs,  that  the  owner  is  aware  of  the  horse  being 
really  sick. 

The  stud  alluded  to,  was  treated  on  the  stimulating,  antiseptic, 
and  alterative  plan,  during  a  period  of  sixteen  days,  and  was  rapidly 


54  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

convalescing,  but  the  ownei*  grew  impatient,  and  put  him  on  board 
the  boat,  when  in  the  course  of  twenty- four  hours  he  died. 

The  other  two  animals  did  not  survive  their  arrival  in  this  city- 
over  twenty-four  hours ;  notwithstanding  the  most  rational  treatment 
they  died  of  a  complication  of  thoracic  and  abdominal  disease. 
During  the  progress  of  the  malady,  they  had  a  discharge  of  viscous 
matter,  which  adhered  in  thick  incrustations  around  the  margins  of 
the  nostrils,  and  they  suffered  excruciating  torment  from  sharp  ab- 
dominal pains,  and  their  dung  was  liquid  and  bloody ;  shortly  before 
death,  their  tongues  acquired  a  brown  color,  and  their  gums  and 
teeth  were  covered  with  a  dirty  slime ;  parts  of  the  body  were  be- 
dewed with  cold,  clammy  sweats ;  the  evacuations  became  very  fetid, 
and  all  the  other  symptoms  greatly  aggravated ;  soon  they  staggered 
and  fell,  never  to  rise  again. 

It  is  probable  that  this  disease  assumed  the  enzootic  type  ;  it  was 
for  a  short  time  very  fatal,  especially  when  treated  on  the  anti-phlo- 
gistic plan ;  in  fact,  so  far  as  my  knowledge  goes,  every  horse  so 
treated,  died. 

The  only  chance  of  bringing  this  malady  to  a  favorable  termina- 
tion was  to  commence  the  treatment  early,  and  then  by  the  use  of 
sanitive  stimulants  and  tonics  sustain  the  vital  powers,  and  thus 
keep  the  patient  alive  while  the  disease  ran  its  course. 

The  agents  used  in  the  above  case  were,  ginger,  poplar  bark, 
chlorate  of  potass,  and  iodide  of  potass. 


DROPSY  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

Operation  on  a  Horse  for  Dropsy  op  the  Brain. — The  sub- 
ject of  the  above  named  disease  was  a  bay  gelding,  aged  seven  years. 
The  animal  had  been  out  of  health  for  a  few  days.  When  my  atten- 
tion was  called  to  him,  I  found  him  down  on  the  right  side ;  from 
appearances  I  should  judge  that  he  had  struggled  considerably,  but 
his  struggles  must  have  been  of  an  unconscious  and  involuntary 
character,  as  the  pupil  of  the  eye  was  amaurotic,  and  he  was  com- 
pletely insensible  to  the  prick  of  a  pin.  Occasionally  the  patient 
would  go  into  convulsions,  kick  with  his  limbs,  and  dash  his  head 
about,  not  knowing  what  he  did.  It  was  noticed  that  he  often  jerked 
his  head  backwards,  as  horses  will  do  when  the  subjects  of  dropsy 
of  the  brain. 

Having  satisfied  myself  that  this  was  a  case  of  dropsy  of  the 
brain — hydrocephalus — and  there  being  but  very  little  if  any  chance 
of  ever  saving  the  subject,  I  obtained  the  owner's  consent  to  trepan 
or  trephine  my  patient,  and  then  draw  off  the  fluid. 

The  operation  was  performed  as  follows :  having  selected  a  point 
at  about  the  centre  of  the  parietal  bones,  I  made  a  crucial — cross- 
shaped — incision,  through  the  integuments,  and  dissected  them  for 
a  small  circumference  from  the  bone  ;  I  than  introduced  the  trephine 
a  little  on  one  side  of  the  suture,  or  ridge,  and  after  sawing  com- 
pletely through  the  bono,  removed  a  piece  of  the  circumference  of 
half  a  dime.  I  now  sent  a  curved  trocar  and  canula,  between  the 
lobes  of  the  brain,  down  into  the  lateral  ventricles,  and  after  with- 


PECULIAK   TO   HORSES.  55 

drawing  the  trocar — cutting  instrument — about  two-thirds  of  a 
tunibler  full  of  water — serum — ran  through  the  canula.  Shortly 
after  this  the  wound  in  the  integuments  was  closed  ;  not  completely, 
however,  for  small  quantities  of  serum  still  escaped,  and  were 
Buffered  to  do  so. 

Up  to  the  time  of  performing  this  operation — that  is,  since  my 
first  visit — the  patient  was  sightless,  and  insensible  in  every  part  of 
his  body  to  the  prick  of  a  pin,  but  so  soon  as  the  fluid  was  removed 
from  the  interior  of  the  brain,  his  sight  and  sensibility  returned,  and 
continued  for  forty-eight  hours,  when  the  horse  gradually  relapsed 
into  a  comatose  or  insensible  condition  ;  and  now,  at  the  end  of  five 
days  after  the  operation  on  his  brain,  it  was  decided  that  he  could 
not  recover,  hence  the  owner  ordered  him  to  be  killed. 

Remarks  on  the  above  Case. — This  horse  was  not  a  very  good 
subject  on  which  to  test  the  merits  of  this  formidable  operation ;  he 
had  been  over-fed,  and  was  rather  plethoric  ;  then  again,  the  weather 
was  excessively  sultry,  and  he  had  very  bad  quarters,  and  very  little 
attention.  I  have,  however,  some  hopes  that  this  operation  may 
ultimately  prove  successful,  when  the  right  subject  is  selected,  and 
when  the  patient  has  proper  care  and  attention  ;  and  should  it  prove 
successful,  some  valuable  lives  might  be  saved. 

If  this  operation  shall  prove  successful  on  the  horse,  why  may  it 
not,  when  performed  on  man,  for  hydrocephalus  ? 


SPLENIC  APOPLEXY. 

During  my  residence  in  Ohio  I  had  occasion  to  visit  a  number  of 
animals,  the  subjects  of  Splenic  Apoplexy.  I  found  that  most  of 
them  had  been  over-fed,  and  were  in  a  state  of  plethora,  hence  to 
prevent  the  malady,  the  farmer  must  dip  a  lighter  hand  into  the  meal 
bag. 

My  impression  is  that  apoplexy,  wherever  it  locates,  in  the  bodies 
of  either  horses  or  cattle,  is  very  apt  to  prove  fatal ;  there  may  be 
occasional  recoveries,  but  these  are  exceptions,  and  not  the  rule. 

The  authorities  contend  that  in  all  cases  of  animals  stricken  with 
this  malady,  the  premonitory  symptoms  are  of  short  duration  ;  they 
may  be  observed  at  night  to  appearance  in  the  enjoyment  of  full 
health,  on  the  morrow  they  may  be  dead. 

Symptoms  of  Splenic  Apoplexy. — When  an  opportunity  is  af- 
forded of  observing  the  development  of  the  earliest  symptoms, 
characteristic  of  this  malady,  they  will  be  found  to  be  somewhat  of 
the  following  nature  :  appetite  somewhat  impaired  ;  countenance  of 
an  anxious  appearance  ;  visible  mucous  surfaces,  a  mixture  of  dull 
red  and  yellow  ;  pulse  somewhat  full,  and  may  range  as  high  as  sev- 
enty; respirations  quickened;  tenderness  along  the  course  of  the 
spine.  The  patient  will  occasionally  stumble  and  fall ;  he  grinds  his 
teeth,  and  an  augmented  secretion  of  saliva  is  seen  to  dribble  from 
the  mouth. 

The  bowels  are  usually  active,  and  the  excrement  is  sufficiently 
soft,  yet  of  a  dark  color ;  when  too  soft,  the  patient  is  afflicted  with 


56  TKEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

colicky  pains,  gets  down  in  torment,  and  often  goes  into  convulsions, 
and  soon  dies. 

The  urine  has  a  very  peculiar  appearance  :  it  varies  from  pink  to 
a  dark  brown  color. 

The  diagnostic  symptom  of  splenic  apoplexy,  with  enlargement  of 
the  same,  is  a  notable  enlargement  on  the  left  side  of  the  abdomen, 
well  up  towards  the  ribs;  on  standing  right  behind  the  animal,  and 
casting  one's  eye  carefully  along  the  sides  of  the  abdominal  walls, 
a  perceptible  eminence  will  be  seen,  which  cannot  be  mistaken. 
The  region  of  the  spleen  is  between  the  stomach  and  false  ribs,  on 
the  left  side. 

When  the  spleen  is  not  enlarged,  but  merely  congested,  then  we 
resort  to  percussion  in  order  to  detect  the  same. 

The  cause  of  death  in  splenic  apoplexy  is  an  abdominal  accumu- 
lation and  effusion  of  blood,  in  the  interior  of  the  spleen,  with  rup- 
ture of  its  constituent  texture  ;  and  it  is  safe  to  infer  that  the  disease 
is  primarily  the  result  of  a  deranged  or  diseased  condition  of  the  assim- 
ilatory  system,  occasioned  by  errors  in  diet.  The  curative  treatment 
of  splenic  ajDoplexy  is  very  unsatisfactory ;  but  in  case  of  enlarge- 
ment of  the  spleen,  we  may  often  succeed  in  aiding  nature  to  cure 
the  malady,  by  administering  iodide  of  potass  and  vegetable  tonics. 


ElVIBRYOTOMY. 

The  operation  of  embryotomy,  as  practiced  by  veterinarians,  sig- 
nifies dismemberment — disembowelment,  &c.,  of  the  foetal  colt — 
located  within  the  uterus  and  vagina.  I  presume  that  very  few 
persons,  unless  they  understand  the  anatomy  of  the  parts,  would 
like  to  undertake  this  formidable  operation ;  yet  it  has  often  been 
the  means  of  saving  the  lives  of  very  many  valuable  breeding  mares  ; 
hence  I  propose,  in  a  brief  manner,  to  give  the  readers  of  this»work 
Bome  idea  of  the  modus  ojjerandi. 

The  instrument  used  in  the  practice  of  embryotomy,  is  a  crooked 
beak-pointed  knife,  which  can  be  so  concealed  in  the  hand  as  not  to 
be  capable  of  doing  any  injury. 

Mode  op  OpERAxioisr. — Having  introduced  the  knife  within  the 
uterine  cavity,  I  run  my  hand  along  the  fostal  limb  to  the  top  of  the 
shoulder,  if  possible,  and  there  turn  the  knife   and   send  its  beak 

Eoint  through  the  integument,  and  slit  the  same  to  the  region  of  the 
nee  ;  a  slip-noose  is  affixed  to  the  fetlock,  and  while  an  assistant  is 
making  steady  traction  on  the  same,  I  loosen  the  integument  from 
the  limb,  then  by  a  little  dexterity  in  the  use  of  the  knife  at  the  top 
of  the  shoulder,  and  elsewhere,  the  whole  leg  is  drawn  away.  After 
amputating  the  shoulder,  I  make  an  incision  through  the  cartilages 
of  the  ribs,  this  exposes  the  whole  of  the  thoracic  viscera,  which  I 
remove.  If  the  bulk  of  the  colt  appears  to  be  sufficiently  removed 
to  insure  its  extraction,  I  affix  a  noose  to  the  remaining  fore  leg  and 
by  traction  remove  the  carcass;  the  only  difficulty  in  the  way  of  a 
prompt  extraction  occurs,  ofttimes,  in  conse(juence  of  the  fcrtal  liead 
being  bent  round  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  chest;  but  under  ordi- 


PECrLIAB   TO   HOKSES.  67 

nary  circumstances  the  colt  can  be  extracted  without  proceeding  to 
disembowel  it  or  decapitate  it.  If,  however,  either  of  the  latter 
operations  will  facilitate  the  birth,  I  should  certainly  perform  one  or 
the  other,  or  both. 

Having  extracted  the  whole  of  the  fcetus,  I  next  remove  the 
placenta  and  membranes,  and  then  drench  the  mare  with  fluid  extract 
of  ginger,  half  an  ounce;  tincture  of  matico,  one  ounce;  warm 
water,  one  quart ;  this  will  improve  the  condition  of  the  prostrate 
animal,  and  insure  contraction  of  the  uterus. 

The  uterine  expulsive  power,  so  favorable  to  the  liberation  of  the 
colt,  if  dormant,  can  readily  be  aroused  by  administering  a  stimu- 
latinsr  drench. 


VETERINARY  MIDWIFERY. 

BEEKCH   PRESENTATION. 

I  was  requested,  some  time  ago,  to  visit  a  valuable  mare,  she 
having  been  in  labor  some  five  or  six  hours  without  eifecting  deliv- 
ery. On  arrival  I  was  informed  that  every  effort  had  been  made  to 
remove  the  foetus,  that  six  men  having  a  rope  attached  to  the  same, 
had  been  pulling  "  might  and  main"  without  success  ;  that  finally  a 
pair  of  mules  was  harnessed  to  the  legs  of  the  unborn  ! 

In  spite  of  this  rough  and  unwarrantable  treatment  the  mare 
still  survived,  and  had  strong  uterine  pains.  On  examination  I 
found  that  it  was  a  case  of  breech  presentation — hind  feet  present- 
ing ;  the  long  diameter  of  the  foetal  pelvis  opposed  to  the  short 
diameter  of  that  of  the  mother.  I  merely  pushed  the  foetus  back- 
ward and  changed  the  position  of  the  same,  brought  the  long  diam- 
eter of  the  pelvis  of  the»*one,  in  apposition  with  that  of  the  other ; 
and  in  the  course  of  five  minutes,  with  the  assistance  of  one  man, 
delivered  the  mare  of  a  dead  colt. 

Remarks. — Such  cases,  I  am  informed,  are  constantly  occurring, 
and  very  often  the  life  of  a  valuable  mare  is  thus  sacrificed  at  the 
shrine  of  ignorance ;  this  is  not  a  matter  that  would  warrant  any 
member  of  our  profession  in  scolding  about;  it  is  a  subject  which 
demands  our  serious  attention,  and  all  our  efforts  as  philanthropists 
and  christian  men,  should  be  exercised  for  the  purpose  of  putting  a 
stop  to  Ac  perpetration  of  similar  barbarities.  The  only  remedy,  as 
I  understand  the  subject,  is  the  establishment  of  Veterinary  Col- 
leges and  Schools  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  these  United 
States  ;  and  I  entreat  the  readers  of  this  work,  to  use  their  means 
and  influence  for  the  purpose  of  educating  men  for  the  responsible 
duties  of  veterinary  surgeons. 

It  may  be  gratifying  to  our  readers  to  know  how  the  above  case 
terminated,  hence  I  append  the  following  extract  from  my  "  case 
book." 

After  delivery,  the  mare  appeared  perfectly  prostrated  ;  pulse,  at 
the  angle  of  the  jaw,  almost  indistinct ;  extremities  cold  ;  tips  of 
the  ears  and  lips  icy  cold  ;  visible  surfaces  pale  ;  respiration  labori- 
ous, and  the  prognosis  was  unfavorable. 


58  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

Treatment. — Administered  diffusible  stimulants,  and  drenched 
the  patient  with  two  quarts  of  hot  gruel  seasoned  with  stimulating 
condiments;  in  the  course  of  two  hours  after  delivery,  the  mare  got 
np  and  commenced  grazing  apparently  with  good  relish;  she  gradu- 
ally improved  and  finally  recovered. 


CANKER  IN  THE  FEET  OF  HORSES. 

Canker  is  a  disease  of  the  tissues  of  the  foot,  affecting  the  sensi- 
tive parts  of  the  frog  and  sensitive  sole,  and  consists  in  a  production 
of  a  morbid  growth  known  as  fungus. 

In  former  years  it  was  very  prevalent  in  the  large  livery  stables 
of  the  city  of  London;  there  it  was  sujjposed  to  rage  as  an  epizootic 
affection,  and  often  appeared  in  a  very  malignant  form.  At  later 
periods,  in  consequence  of  an  improved  system  of  stable  manage- 
ment, and  the  presence  of  educated  veterinary  surgeons,  the  disease 
is  less  prevalent,  and  is  robbed  of  its  greatest  terrors. 

It  is  probable  that  this  disease,  like  many  others,  "lurks  in  breed," 
for  it  has  been  observed  that  a  great  proportion  of  the  subjects 
afflicted  with  this  malady  are  of  coarse  breed  or  organization, 
having  much  coarse  hair  on  their  limbs,  and  the  same  animals  have 
large  and  flat  feet.  Canker  usually  attacks  the  hind  feet;  these 
parts  being  most  remote  from  the  central  organs  of  cii'culation,  are 
very  apt  to  become  the  seat  of  this  affection  whenever  circumstances 
are  favorable  to  its  production.  The  circumstances  favorable  for  the 
production  of  canker  are  predisposition. 

Taking  a  common  sense  view  of  this  affection,  it  appears  to  resem- 
ble that  very  formidable  disease  known,  in  human  medicine,  as  cancer , 
for  if  allowed  to  progress,  the  disease  acquires  a  deep  seated  origin, 
and  spreads  from  frog  to  sole,  and  around  the  toe  and  quarters,  and 
like  cancer  it  often  flourishes  with  a  peculiar  luxuriance  ;  yet,  after 
all,  common  canker,  as  it  occurs  in  horses,  is  not  identical  with  hu- 
man cancer,  foi',  on  microscopical  examination  we  fail  to  find  the 
true  scirrhus,  or  cancerous  change  of  the  morbid  tissues. 

The  treatment  of  canker  is  as  follows:  Bathe  the  parts  freely  with 
pyroligneous  acid,  and  then  cover  the  cankerous  surfaces  with  pow- 
dered blood-root.  The  dressing  must  be  renewed  often,  and  the 
parts  should  be  completely  covered  with  the  blood-root  as  often  as  it 
IS  removed  by  abrasion  or  otherwise. 

The  constitutional  treatment  is  as  follows :  Give  the  horse,  daily, 
twenty  grains  of  iodide  of  potass,  and  forty  grains  of  powdered 
blood-root,  either  in  the  form  of  drench,  or  otherwise.  Should  the 
animal  not  recover  under  this  form  of  treatment,  the  case  may  be 
considered  as  incurable. 


UMBILICAL  HERNIA. 

Umbilical  Hernia,  commonly  known  as  rupture,  often  occurs  in 
colts,  and  in  fact  is  often  congenital — exists  at  birth.  The  sac,  or 
pendulous  bag,  is  located  in  the  region  known  as  the  "  navel,"  or 


PECULIAK   TO    HORSES.  59 

umbilical  region ;  the  sac  sometimes  acquires  magnitude  so  as  to 
])resent  an  '•  eye  sore,"  or  iinsightly  apj)earance,  which  very  fre- 
quently iiiipuirs  the  value  and  usefulness  of  the  animal. 

In  former  days  a  very  barbarous  operation  was  occasionally  per- 
formed for  the  removal  of  the  enlargement,  which  was  performed 
in  the  following  manner:  the  animal,  after  being  oast,  was  placed  on 
his  back  ;  in  this  position  the  bowel  generally  receded  into  the  abdom- 
inal cavity,  then  three  or  four  skewers  were  inserted  through  the 
walls  of  the  loose  skin,  and  then  ligatures  were  applied.  This  inter- 
rupted the  circulation  of  blood  through  the  parts,  and  the  superfluous 
skin  sloughed  off,  at  the  same  time  the  internal  parts  cf  the  sac 
united,  and  in  this  way  the  "  eye  sore"  was  sometimes  got  rid  of; 
)Ut  unfortunately  death  often  ensued,  either  as  the  result  of  perito- 
nitis, or  of  locked  jaw. 

The  safest  mode  of  treatment  now  adopted,  is  that  of  continuous 
pressure  : 

"  It  consists  of  a  common  girth,  properly  shaped  to  the  body, 
having  a  stiff  piece  of  oval-shaped  leather  introduced  inferiorly,  to 
come  in  contact  with  the  rupture.  This  should  be  buckled  on  mod- 
erately tight,  and  retained  in  its  situation  as  follows  :  place  a  common  * 
collar  on  the  animal's  neck,  to  which  three  straps  are  attached,  one 
on  each  side  and  the  other  at  the  brisket.  Two  pieces  of  webbing 
should  be  attached  to  the  main  girth  with  buckles  at  the  opposite 
end,  to  meet  the  side  straps,  and  a  piece  of  leather,  instead  of  web- 
bing, to  meet  the  brisket  one.  This  latter  should  be  forked  or  split, 
part  of  the  way,  so  as  to  admit  of  its  being  attached  to  the  oval 
piece  of  leather  covering  the  rupture.  These  are  then  to  be  buckled 
to  the  straps  coming  from  the  collar,  by  which  means  the  girth  is 
held  in  its  proper  position.  Over  the  whole  a  common  surcingle  may 
be  placed,  just  behind  the  elbows,  (the  usual  girthing  place,)  in  order 
to  keep  the  whole  snug  and  close  to  the  body. 

"  The  animal,  thus  harnessed,  should  be  turned  into  a  loose  box  and 
fed  well,  the  object  being  to  force  the  system  as  much  as  possible. 
The  best  time  for  applying  the  truss  is  when  the  animal  is  taken  from 
the  mare.  In  a  general  way,  about  three  months'  wear  of  the  truss 
will  be  found  sufficient  to  effect  a  cure.  The  modus  operandi  appears 
to  be  this  :  pressure  keeps  the  bowels  within  the  abdomen,  thereby 
giving  the  aperture  an  opportunity  of  closing,  which  in  many  cases 
it  will  do  most  completely.  But  even  should  it  not,  you  may  depend 
upon  its  not  getting  larger.  The  bowel,  from  the  general  develop- 
ment going  on  in  the  system,  hastened  by  the  good  keep,  will  soon 
do  so,  i.  e.,  get  larger,  and  consequently  will  not  dip  into  the  same 
opening,  even  should  it  remain.  Partial  or  complete  adhesion  of  the 
sides  of  the  sac  will  take  place,  followed  by  an  entire  removal  of  the 
unsightly  pendulous  bag,  with  its  contents,  which  constituted  the 
disease." 


LYMPHATITIS. 

Prelimixakt. — Lymphatitis  is  a  disease  known  to  occur  among 
horses  of  the  lymphatic  temperament,  affecting  the  superficial  lym- 
phatics of  the  hind  extremities ;  causing  swelling,  heat  and  tender- 


60  TEEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

ness  of  the  parts.  The  disease  is  known  to  occur  among  horses  of 
"  coarse  breed,"  and  the  more  advanced  in  age  such  an  animal  may- 
be, the  more  subject  is  he  to  this  affection ;  j^rovided,  however,  he 
be  of  the  lymphatic  or  lazy  temperament. 

Various  names  have  been  applied  to  tliis  affection;    for  example, »-•« 
in  Scotland  it  is  known  as  xceed^  thick-leg,  water-farcy,  shot-o'grease, 
&c.,  &c., — names  which  throw  not  the  least  Light  on  the  nature  of  the 
affection. 

Cause  of  the  Malady. — The  indirect  cause  is  predisposition, 
which  lurks  in  breed ;  the  ordinary  exciting  cause  or  causes  are, 
errors  in  diet,  over- work  and  mismanagement  when  at  work  (which 
signifies  exposure  to  storms,  &c.,  and  ill  usage,)  hard  pulls  and  poor 
fodder. 

Case  of  Lymphatitis. — On  visiting  the  patient,  I  was  informed 
that  the  disease  commenced  with  a  paroxysm — or  fit — of  shivering, 
very  suddenly.  1  found  the  animal  standing  on  three  legs  ;  the  near 
hind  one — the  seat  of  disease — was  flexed  and  held  about  twelve 
inches  from  the  floor.  The  affected  limb  was  hot,  tender  and  swol- 
len, and  the  glands,  or  lymphatics  of  the  groin,  were  "  corded,"  or 
enlarged.  On  the  inner  surface  of  the  thigh  a  number  of  corded 
lymphatics,  or  minute  elevations,  under  the  true  skin,  could  be  dis- 
tinctly felt,  and  on  exploring  and  gently  squeezing  the  same,  the 
patient  would  suddenly  catch  up  the  limb  from  sheer  pain.  The 
pulse  was  very  wiry,  and  so  quick  that  it  was  impossible  to  count 
the  beats. 

This  case  was  treated  by  means  of  diuretics  and  tonics,  adminis- 
tered internally,  and  the  swollen  limb  was  bathed  as  often  with  an 
infusion  of  plantago  major — common  plantain.  In  the  course  of 
six  days  the  animal  had  entirely  recovered. 


RINGBONE— ITS  NATURE,  CAUSE  AND  TREATMENT. 

Nature  of  Ringbone. — The  term  ringbone,  signifies  a  bony  en- 
largement, in  the  region  of  the  coronet.  The  ring  is  formed  of 
osseous  incrustations  or  deposits  on  the  pastern,  and  sometimes  the 
lateral  cartilages  are  changed  into  bone  ;  at  other  times  the  disease 
commences  on  the  articulatory  surfaces  ;  in  such  case  the  horse  may 
commence  to  go  lame  some  time  before  any  enlargement  makes  its 
appearance  ;  the  disease  is  then  termed  inter-articular  •  soon,  how- 
ever, the  disease  spreads,  and  the  usual  change  in  the  form  of  the 
parts  is  very  perceptible,  and  the  action  of  one  or  more  joints  be- 
neath the  cannon  bone  is  forever  destroyed.  This  condition  is  known 
to  medical  men  as  anchylisos,  (loss  of  motion,)  while  that  form  of 
ringbone,  occurring  on  the  surface  of  the  bones,  is  called  exostosis, 
(extra  gi-owth.)  Various  osseous  enlargements  or  deposits  are  found 
on  the  coronet  and  pastern  Ijones,  varying  in  shape,  size,  ttc,  and 
some  ])ersons  have  denominated  ihem  "  cling-fasts  ;"  and  there  is  no 
doubt  but  they  do  "cling  fast." 

As  regards  the  spreading  of  the  disease  and  its  magnitude,  that 
depends  on  the  idiosyncracies  of  the  animal ;  it  has  been  noticed  that 


PECULIAR    TO    PT0RSE9.  CI 

animals  of  the  "  rickety"  or  "  rachetic"  diathesis  are  more  prone  to 
an  aj^gravated  form  of  the  malady  than  otliers  not  so  constituted  ; 
and  in  the  former  case  the  bones  of  the  whole  body  arc  found  to  bo 
deficient  in  animal  matter,  and  rich  in  earthy  matter,  and  other  bones 
of  the  body  are  found  to  be  incrusted  with  earthy  deposits,  so  that, 
in  some  cases,  the  affection  may  be  of  a  constitutional  character. 

Cause  of  Ringbone. — Ringbone  often  owes  its  origin  to  heredi- 
tary influences,  transmitted,  either  directly  or  incUreotly  /  it  is  not 
often,  however,  that  the  malady  appears  as  the  direct  result  of  sex- 
ual intercourse  between  animals,  one  or  both  of  which  may  be 
aftected ;  yet  there  are  cases  on  record  going  to  show,  that  the 
disease  has  often  been  observed  to  occur  in  colts  that  have  not  even 
been  trained,  nor  submitted  to  the  ordinary  exciting  causes  which 
are  operative  in  inauguratmg  the  disease  in  the  predisposed  subject. 
During  my  professional  career,  in  this  country,  many  cases  of  King- 
bone,  occurring  during  colthood,  have  attracted  my  attention;  hence 
I  infer  that  the  malady  can  be  directly  transmitted. 

Mr.  Percival  relates  that  his  attention  to  the  hereditary  origin  oi 
ringbone  was  first  aroused  from  a  remark  made  by  an  extensive 
dealer  in  horses,  in  reply  to  a  question  put  to  him,  how  it  happened 
that  but  few  ringbones  were  met  with,  compared  to  the  number  that 
attracted  notice  in  times  past.  The  reply  was  :  "  Because  no  breeder 
of  horses  now-a-days,  will  send  a  mare  to  a  horse  having  ringbone." 
A  very  good  example  for  American  breeders  to  follow,  for  the  mal- 
ady is  very  prevalent  in  this  country. 

Horses  predisposed  to  ringbone  are  bony-legged  animals,  with 
short  and  upright  pasterns.  The  direct  cause  of  ringbone  in  such 
animals  is  ligamentary  sprains,  induced  by  over-work,  &c. 

Treatment  of  Ringbone. — The  whole  theory  of  the  treatment 
may  be  contained  in  a  nutshell.  Keep  the  animal  at  rest  and  apply 
counter  irritants  of  iodine  or  ccintharides.  Should,  however,  the 
lameness  be  very  considerable  and  the  animal  appear  to  suffer  much 
pain,  then  I  should  rub  the  affected  parts  with  equal  parts  of  spirits 
of  camphor  and  sulphuric  aether.  After  the  treatment  has  ceased, 
the  owner  of  the  animal  must  exercise  patience,  for  it  will  require 
some  time  for  nature  to  perfect  the  cure. 


TREATMENT  OF  GALLED  BACK 

As  soon  as  an  abrasion  is  discovered  on  the  back  of  a  horse,  the 
animal  should  be  excused  from  duty  for  a  few  days;  the  abraded 
parts  should  be  dressed  twice  daily  with  a  portion  of  tincture  of 
aloes  and  myrrh.     This  simple  treatment  will  soon  heal  the  parts. 

Should  there  be  no  abrasion,  but  a  simple  swelling,  attended  with 
heat,  pain  and  tenderness,  tlie  parts  should  be  frequently  sponged 
with  cold  water.  Occasionally  the  sl^in  undergoes  the  process  of 
hardening,  (induration.)  This  is  a  condition  of  the  parts  known  to 
the  farriers  of  old  as  "  sitfast,"  and  the  treatment  is  as  follows  :  pro- 
cure one  ounce  of  iodine  ointment,  and  smear  the  itidurated  spot 
with  a  portion  of  the  same,  twice  daily. 


62  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

'  Somo  cases  of  galled  back,  and  shoulders,  are  due  to  negligence 
and  abuse,  yet  many  animals,  owing  to  a  peculiarity  of  constitution, 
will  "  chafe,"  as  the  saying  is,  in  those  parts  which  come  in  contact 
with  the  collar  and  saddle,  and  neither  human  foresight  nor  mechan- 
ical means  can  prevent  the  same. 


OVER-DISTENSION  OF  THE  STOMACH. 

Oct.  19th,  1862.  This  evening  a  bay  gelding  aged  7  years,  the 
property  of  Mr.  Burgess,  of  North  Chicago,  was  brought  to  Mr. 
Patrick's  stable  under  the  following  circumstances : 

I  was  informed  by  the  owner  that  the  animal  had  in  the  early  part 
of  the  morning  broken  loose  from  his  stall,  and  immediately  com- 
menced a  desperate  attack  on  a  bag  of  oats,  which  happened  to  be 
within  reach;  the  horse  is  known  as  a  ravenous  feeder,  and  the  pro- 
bability is,  that  he  did  not  spare  the  oats,  but  took  a  pretty  large 
dose,  so  as  to  over-distend  his  stomach.  The  services  of  the  animal 
being  required  a  few  hours  afterwards,  he  was  hitched  up  ;  he  soon, 
however,  showed  symptoms  of  distress,  attempted  to  lay  down,  and 
and  finally  got  into  a  profuse  perspiration.  Shortly  after  this,  my 
attention  was  called  to  him. 

I  found  the  patient  in  great  distress;  his  head  pendulous;  breath- 
ing much  embarrassed;  pulse  very  rapid;  body  bedewed  with  a 
chilly  perspiration  ;  legs  and  ears  cold ;  continual  eructations  of  gas 
by  the  mouth,  from  the  stomach ;  and  at  the  same  time  efforts  to 
vomit,  Nvhich  brought  away  nothing  more  than  salival  secretion, 
which,  however,  was  quite  profuse ;  the  patient  rolled  and  tumbled 
about  considerably,  and  would  occasionally  stand  up  for  a  few  sec- 
onds at  a  time. 

j  Treatment. — It  appeared  that  the  indications,  in  view  of  relief, 
were  to  arouse  the  action  of  the  stomach,  and  at  the  same  time 
arrest  fermentation.  I  was  under  the  impression  that  the  contents 
of  the  gorged  stomach  could  only  be  got  rid  of  in  the  ordinary  way, 
viz.,  by  digestion.  I  am  aware  that  it  is  often  customary  to  give 
drastic  cathartics  in  view  of  getting  rid  of  the  contents  of  the  stom- 
ach, yet  I  would  not  advise  the  reader  to  do  this,  for  the  horse  may 
die  before  the  medicine  operates. 

The  following  drench  was  administered : 

Fluid  Extract  of  Ginger 1  oimce. 

"         «         "    Goldenseal 2      " 

Carbonate  of  Soda 2  drachms. 

Water 4  ounces. 

After  the  exhibition  of  the  above,  I  threw  into  the  rectum  a  couple 
of  quarts  of  soap-suds,  to  which  was  added  a  handful  of  salt;  in 
the  course  of  about  an  hour  the  animal  appeared  somewhat  relieved, 
and  I  repeated  the  dose,  also  the  enema.  The  patient  very  soon 
afterwards  passed  a  large  quantity  of  excrement,  and  bo  rapidly 
improved  that  I  left  him,  and  did  not  see  him  again  until  the  next 
morning,  when  he  appeared  to  have  entirely  recovered.     With  tho 


PECULIAR   TO  HORSES.  63 

exception  of  a  bran  mash  or  two,  the  above  comprises  the  whole  of 
the  treatment. 

Remarks. — It  was  hicky  for  the  horse  as  well  as  the  parties  con- 
cerned, that  the  animal  did  not  get  corn  instead  of  oats  ;  for  tlie  same 
quantity  of  corn  would  have  surely  caused  death  ;  from  the  fact  that 
when  this  article  of  fodder  is  submitted,  within  the  stomach,  to  the 
action  of  heat  and  moisture,  it  increases  in  bulk  in  a  ratio  of  about 
five  to  one,  and  the  usual  result  is  rupture  of  the  stomach;  still 
should  any  of  our  readers  be  called  upon  to  treat  a  case  of  the  lat- 
ter kind,  there  is  no  other  plan  of  treatment,  with  which  I  am  ac- 
quainted, that  will  be  likely  to  succeed  in  saving  the  animal  than  the 
one  above  indicated. 

A  cow  is  sometimes  "gorged,"  and  her  paunch  is,  in  consequence, 
distended  to  an  enormous  capacity,  and  very  frequently  an  opera- 
tion has  to  be  performed  in  order  to  remove  the  contents  of  the 
same  ;  yet  such  an  operation  as  the  one  usually  performed,  is  attend- 
ed with  much  danger,  and  rather  than  run  the  risk  of  losing  the 
animal,  I  should  first  try  to  arouse  the  action  of  the  stomach,  as  in 
the  case  of  a  horse. 


SWEENEY,  OR  WASTING  OF  MUSCLES. 

Preliminary. — This  afiection  is  one  which  prevails  very  exten- 
sively among  Western  horses,  and  indeed  has  occasionally  been  pre- 
sent in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  yet  very  little  of  a  reliable 
character  has  ever  been  written  on  the  subject;  hence,  as  a  pro- 
fessed teacher  of  veterinary  science,  and  not  being  willing  to  carry 
my  knowledge  to  the  grave,  it  becomes  my  pleasant  duty  to  give  the 
readers  of  this  work  the  benefit  of  my  experience,  and  in  so  doing 
I  shall  endeavor  to  be  brief,  practical,  and  also  to  deal  in  facts. 

Sweeney  is  a  terra  used  by  husbandmen,  sicrnifying  wasting  of 
the  muscles  in  the  region  of  the  shoulder-blade ;  professional  men 
recognize  the  affection  as  Atrophy — wasting;  2l  gradual  ox  sudden 
diminution  in  the  size  of  muscles  of  a  region,  or  of  the  whole  body. 
When  the  afiection  is  confined  to  the  shoulder,  it  is  called  local  atro- 
phy;  and  when  there  occurs  a  morbid  and  progressive  diminution 
in  the  bulk  of  the  muscles  of  the  whole  body,  the  disease  is  known 
as  general  atrophy,  or  Marasmus. 

Medical  writers  generally  contend  that  sweeney  or  atrophy  is  occa- 
sioned by  faulty  or  defective  nutrition,  and  is  usually  sympathetic. 
Ancient  authorities  say,  that  in  atrophy,  the  fat  only  is  wasted. 
This  is  a  great  mistake:  for  a  collapsion  of  the  cellular,  muscular 
and  vascular  systems,  in  a  case  of  atrophy,  is  evidently  apparent. 

Pathology  of  Sweeney. — I  now  propose  to  discuss  the  theory 
of  the  pathology  of  Sweeney. 

I  have  had  several  opportunities  of  examining  horses  that  have 
died  in  consequence  of  disease  or  old  age,  who,  during  life,  were 
the  subjects  of  sweeney,  and  I  always  found  the  muscles  of  the  shoul- 
der, or  shoulders,  pale  looking  or  bloodless ;  almost  resembling  the 
muscles  of  a  calf  that  had  been  bled  to  death:  the  ordinary  color 
should  be  a  reddish-brown  tint     The  collapsion  was  not  only  con- 


64  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

fined  to  the  muscular  fibres,  but  aifected  the  blood-vessels,  which 
appeared  to  be  constricted;  and  the  cellular  membrane  had  almost 
entirely  disappeared,  merely  by  condensation  and  contraction  of  the 
skin  over  the  region  of  the  parts ;  which  contraction  usually  ocours 
in  consequence  of  shrinking  of  muscles  beneath. 

In  conformity  with  the  opinions  of  our  veterinary  authorities,  I 
have  hitherto  in  most  cases  considered  sweeney  as  a  symptomatic 
affection,  from  the  fact  that  I  have  had  to  treat  a  number  of  cases 
similar  to  the  following: 

A  celebrated  and  valuable  trotting  horse,  known  as  "  Rocky," 
owned  by  a  party  in  Cincinnati,  became  lame.  The  animal  was 
treated  for  shrinking  of  the  muscles  of  the  shoulder  blades,  by 
setons,  lotions,  &c.,  and  a  long  run  at  grass.  The  treatment  ex- 
tended over  one  year.  The  animal  was  finally  purchased  by  Messrs. 
Mathews  and  McGibboney  of  Chicago.  On  arrival  of  the  animal  I 
examined  him  and  found  that  the  sweeney  was  occasioned  by  con- 
traction of  the  hoofs.  I  recomitiended  a  different  course  of  treat- 
ment. The  feet  received  special  attention;  and  now  the  owners 
inform  me  that  they  have  been  offered  a  large  sum  for  him. 

In  May,  1861,  I  was  requested  to  see  a  gray  gelding,  aged  eight 
years,  which  had  recently  been  purchased  as  sound,  &c.  Shortly 
after  purchase  it  was  discovered  that  the  animal  went  lame.  ItAvas 
noticed  that  the  muscles  known  as  anterior  and  posterior  spinati  (in 
the  region  of  the  shoulder  blade),  were  wasted,  and  it  was  evident 
that  the  animal  had  been  treated  for  sweeney  from  the  fact  that  the 
marks  remained  where  setons  had  been  introduced. 

On  making  an  examination  of  the  foot,  on  the  affected  side,  I 
found  enlargement  of  the  lateral  cartilages  of  the  coffin  bone;  the 
lateral  cartilages  had  undergone  transformation,  and  had  changed 
into  bone.  In  the  region  of  the  foot,  then,  was  the  seat  of  lameness, 
and  the  poor  brute  had  been  tortured  in  the  usual  manner  about  the 
shoulder  for  the  expectant  cure  of  that  which  only  constituted  a 
symptom  of  organic  disease  of  the  coffin  bone. 

The  altered  structure  and  enlargement  in  the  vicinity  of  the  foot 
had  been  entirely  overlooked,  and  it  is  probable,  as  my  employer 
had  only  been  in  possession  of  the  horse  a  short  time,  that  the  crea- 
ture must  have  been  unsound  at  the  time  of  purchase. 

The  wasting  of  the  muscles  of  the  shoulders,  is  to  be  accounted 
for  in  these  two  cases  as  follows : 

It  is  a  well  known  fact,  that  inaction  of  a  muscle  induces  a  de- 
crease in  its  size.  The  muscles  of  laboring  men  decrease  in  size 
whenever,  from  choice  or  necessity,  the  individual  leads  a  sedentary 
life.  A  limb  kept  at  rest  for  any  great  length  of  time,  always  un- 
dergoes more  or  less  atrophy  (wasting.)  In  these  cases  the  foot 
diseases  were  of  such  a  character  as  to  cause  the  subjects  much  pain 
in  progression ;  in  order  to  relieve  the  feet  they  spared  their  mus- 
cles, which  want  of  free  and  full  action  led  to  dimiijished  nutrition 
and  wasting — atrophy.  Some  of  our  readers  must  have  noticed  the 
fact  of  the  shrinkage  of  the  muscles  of  the  haunch  in  case  of  disease 
or  severe  lameness  of  one  of  the  hind  feet.  This  shrinkage  often 
occurs,  as  in  the  case  of  the  shoulder,  from  want  of  natural  action 
and  full  play  of  the  muscles  concerned.  We  have  ample  proof 
that  the  wasting  is  the  result  of  want  of  action,  in  the  fact,  that 


PECULIAE   TO    H0ESE3.  65 

when  the  horse  becomes  the  subject  of  a  paniful  disease  in  the  hind 
foot,  he  neither  advances  nor  rotates  the  limb  any  more  than  he  can 
possibly  help — but  holds  the  foot  up.  On  examination,  the  atrophy 
or  wasting  is  confined  to  the  muscles  which  perform  these  two  ac- 
tions ;  and  in  case  of  lameness  or  pain  in  ono  of  the  fore-feet,  the 
same  faulty  action  is  observable,  and  the  same  class  of  muscles 
(whose  action  is  almost  identical  with  that  of  the  hind  parts)  are  the 
ones  atfected. 

I  deem  it  of  great  importance  that  husbandmen  should  fully  un- 
derstand this  subject,  for  it  will  enable  them  to  perceive  that — while 
inflating  horses'  shoulders  with  a  quill,  or  practicing  any  other  ab- 
surd treatment  in  the  vicinity  of  the  wasted  or  sweenied  shoulder — 
they  are  overlooking  the  real  malady  (in  the  foot),  and  at  best  are 
only  treating  symptoms.  On  careful  examination,  however,  should 
it  appear  that  the  patient  is  free  from  any  disorder  of  the  foot  or 
feet,  and  on  the  other  hand  it  is  clearly  evident  that  myositis,  or 
myalgia,  of  the  muscles  exist,  then  the  treatment  must  be  directed 
to  the  affected  parts — the  facta  in  either  case  can  only  be  determined 
by  a  competent  practitioner. 

In  view  of  sustaining  the  proposition  that  Sweeney  is  a  syinptoonatic 
affection,  I  might  introduce  a  great  number  of  cases  that  have  come 
under  ray  own  observation ;  but  I  do  not  wish  to  bore  the  reader, 
nor  inflict  a  long  article  on  him;  therefore  I  submit  the  preceding 
cases  as  a  sample  of  all  the  rest  which  I  might  offer.  The  malady 
may  be  of  a  different  grade  or  character,  but  the  primary  disease,  of 
which  Sweeney  is  the  result,  originates  often  in  foot  lameness. 

I  now  propose  to  show  that  sweeney  is  not  always  a  symptomatic 
affection. 

I  have  often  noticed  that  when  horses  have  been  over-driven,  or 
over-worked,  they  become  stiff  and  lame  in  those  parts  of  the  body 
most  susceptible  to  the  ordinary  influences;  for  example,  one  horse 
may  perform  a  long  journey  with  a  weighty  man  on  his  back,  and  the 
next  day  the  animal  shows  symptoms  of  lameness  in  the  lumbar 
region;  his  back  is  arched;  the  limbs  are  brought  under  the  centre 
of  the  body,  and  every  movement  indicates  that  the  animal  suffers 
tormenting  pains  which  are  located  in  the  muscles  of  the  back ;  this 
is  myositis,  or  inflammation  of  muscular  fibre;  sometimes,  however, 
the  malady  constitutes  myalgia — muscular  pain  and  spasm  unaccom- 
panied by  inflammatory  action. 

Another  horse  may  be  put  to  a  similar  kind  of  work,  and  in  a  few 
hours  afterwards  he  is  found  very  stiff  and  lame;  but  the  symptoms 
are  not  the  same  as  those  just  recorded ;  the  pathology  is  probably 
identical;  it  is  the  same  disease,  only  it  has  a  different  locality — it  is 
myositis  of  the  pectoral  muscles,  involving  also  the  muscles  of  the 
shoulder  blades.  And  the  intelligent  owner  of  the  afilicted  animal 
will  notice  that  his  fore  extremities  are  unnaturally  advanced  ;  the 
foreparts  of  the  body  are  unnaturally  hot  and  tender;  the  fore-feet 
are  feverish,  and  the  hoofs  are  hotter  than  xasual;  the  advanced  posi- 
tion of  the  fore  extremities  and  shoulders,  gives  a  very  marked  hol- 
lowness  to  the  forepart  of  the  chest,  and  many  men,  on  seeing  such 
a  case,  would  declare  that  the  animal  was  chest  foundered,  this  being 
the  name  which  is  sometimes  given  to  such  a  condition;  but  really  it 
is  owing  to  myalgia — muscular  pain  and  stiffness. 
5 


66  TEEATMENT   OF  DISEASES 

It  is  well  known  that  all  muscles  are  subject  to  inflammatory  action 
and  muscular  pain  from  work  disproportionate  to  their  strength  ;  for 
example,  let  any  man  undertake  to  saw  wood,  practice  with  heavy 
dumb-bells,  or  ride  on  a  horse — feats  that  he  has  never  been  accus- 
tomed to — and  whether  the  labor  be  excessive  or  not,  the  individual 
will  shortly  complain  of  more  or  less  muscular  pain,  and  if  he  be  a 
weak  man,  the  more  excessive  will  be  that  pain.  Now  the  muscles 
of  the  horse  being  just  as  susceptible  to  pain  as  those  of  the  man, 
are  just  as  easily  operated  on  through  the  well  known  exciting 
causes. 

In  the  case  of  a  horse,  when  the  work  has  been  very  excessive  and 
of  a  character  to  bring  the  muscles  of  the  shoulders,  their  tendons 
and  coverings,  into  a  state  of  over-exertion,  it  will  often  be  found 
that  some  of  the  muscular  fibres  in  the  region  of  the  shoulder,  are 
fractured,  small  blood-vessels  are  ruptured,  and  other  pathological 
changes  take  place ;  this  is  followed  by  inflammation — myositis.  Sup- 
pose, therefore,  a  horse  shows  symptoms  of  myositis  after  excessive 
work,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  it  is  noticed  that  the  muscles 
of  his  shoulders  are  wasting  away,  and  they  continue  to  waste,  so 
that  all  pei'sons  who  examine  the  animal  pronounce  him  sweenied — 
we  may  then  infer  that  the  wasting  (sweeney)  is  not  symptomatic, 
but  is  the  result  of  myositis,  the  principal  treatment  for  which  is,  rest; 
afterwards  diminish  the  work,  and  by  proper  diet  and  tonics,  in- 
crease the  power  to  do  it. 


LARYNGITIS. 

Laryngitis  signifies  inflammation  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the 
larynx  ;  it  is  sometimes  known  as  sore  throat.  Like  other  inflamma- 
tory affections  of  the  respiratory  apparatus,  it  is  accompanied  by 
feverish  symptoms — heat,  pain,  and  diflicult  respiration. 

The  inflammatory  condition  exists  during  a  hmited  period,  varying 
from  two  to  five  days  ;  then,  generally,  commences  the  suppurative 
stage,  which  is  characterized  by  a  discharge  from  both  nostrils. 

Cause  of  Laryngitis. — As  regards  the  special  cause  of  this 
affection  very  httle  is  known  ;  it  is  supposed,  however,  to  originate 
in  a  common  cold,  &c.,  yet  I  have  known  horses  to  become  the  sub- 
jects of  it  that  have  not  been  exposed  to  the  ordinary  influences 
which  are  said  to  produce  the  symptoms  of  cold ;  hence  we  may 
infer  that  bad  management,  and  the  evils  of  domestication  have 
something  to  do  with  it. 

The  fact  is,  disease  neither  .respects  man  nor  horse ;  each  must 
once  in  a  while  suffer  and  groan,  swallow  drugs,  get  well,  or  else 
"  Icich  the  bucket  /"  and  as  regards  the  horse,  the  greater  his  value, 
the  more  likely  is  he  to  get  sick,  from  the  fact  that  he  is  sure  to  be 
petted,  over-fed,  and  generally  he  is  too  well  cared  for. 

Symptoms. — The  most  observable  symptoms  are,  protrusion  of  the 
head  ;  a  sort  of  half  suppressed  cough  ;  slight  swelling  in  the  region 
of  the  throat;  difficulty  in  swallowing;  and  if  the  ear  be  applied  to 
this  region,  a  grating  sound  is  heard. 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  67 

Treatment. — The  animal  slioukl  be  fed  on  sloppy  bran  mashes 
three  times  daily,  to  which  add  one  drachm  of  powdered  nitre,  and 
twice  daily  lubricate  the  region  of  the  throat  with  some  stimulating 
liniment.  Let  the  patient  breathe  a  pure  atmosphere,  and  he  will 
soon  get  well. 


PLEURISY.  ' 

This  is  one  of  the  most  painful  among  equine  affections.  ' 

Pci'sons  who  have  suffered  the  pains  attending  acute  pleurisy, 
describe  them  as  lancinating  ;  this  accounts  for  the  deplorable  con- 
dition of  a  horse  when  suddenly  attacked  with  this  terrible  affliction. 

Symptoms. — The  excruciating  torment  attending  the  early  devel- 
opments of  the  malady,  causes  the  animal  to  get  down  and  tumble 
about,  as  if  he  were  the  subject  of  colic  ;  biit  soon  it  will  be  observed 
that  the  case  is  not  one  of  colic^  for  as  soon  as  the  most  painful 
features  of  the  malady  have  subsided,  the  animal  does  not  recline 
on  the  floor,  but  stands,  with  his  fore  legs  wide  apart,  in  view  of 
preventing  friction  between  the  lungs  and  the  interior  lining  mem- 
brane of  the  cavity  of  the  chest ;  the  pain  is  continuous,  which  is 
proof  positive  that  the  animal  is  not  the  subject  of  colic. 

If  pressure  be  made  with  the  finger  on  the  spaces  between  the 
ribs  and  the  chest,  it  elicits  symptoms  of  great  pain  ;  and  should  the 
ear  be  placed  against  the  walls  of  the  chest,  a  grating  sound  will  be 
heard,  and  the  respiratory  murmur  is  not  natural.  This  malady  is 
apt  to  terminate  in  dropsy  of  the  chest.  In  all  cases  of  acute  pleu- 
risy the  pulse  is  strong  and  wiry. 

TREATME>rT. — Supposing  the  disease  to  be  in  its  early  stage,  as 
shown  by  such  symptoms  as  above,  give  the  patient  twenty-five 
drops  of  tincture  of  aconite,  mixed  in  about  two  ounces  of  water, 
and  ten  drops  more  every  hour,  un*jil  the  pulse  becomes  softer ;  then 
omit  the  aconite,  and  give  one  drachm  of  powdered  nitre,  twenty -five 
drops  of  powdered  blood-root,  in  four  ounces  of  water ;  drench  the 
animal  very  carefully,  so  as  not  to  put  him  to  unnecessary  pain.  It 
is  possible  that  the  animal  may  take  this  medicine  if  placed  in  a 
bucket  containing  a  few  quarts  of  water.  This  latter  medicine  may 
be  repeated  every  four  hours,  until  four  doses  have  been  taken  ;  in 
the  meantime,  a  thin  paste  of  mustard  and  vinegar  should  be  care- 
fully rubbed  on  the  sides  of  the  chest  and  under  the  breast ;  the 
paste  must  be  quite  thin,  or  it  cannot  be  absorbed,  hence  will  be 
useless.  Should  the  weather  be  chilly,  clothe  the  lower  part  of  the 
limbs  with  flannel. 

The  intelligent  OM^ner  will  attend  to  the  wants  of  the  animal,  ana 
see  that  he  is  located  in  a  part  of  the  stable  where  he  will  be  free 
from  annoyance. 

It  will  be  easy  to  ascertain  whether  or  no  the  case  is  curable  ;  for 
if,  during  the  treatment,  the  patient  continues  to  grow  worse,  hydro- 
thorax^  or  dropsy  of  the  chest,  is  sure  to  set  in ;  this  latter  disease 
requires  the  services  of  a  veterinary  surgeon. 


68  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 


DISEASE   OF  THE   SKIN  — MANGE  — LOUSINESS  — 
REMEDY  FOR  THE  SAME. 

A  great  many  of  the  horses  lately  disposed  of  by  the  Government, 
as  "  condemned,"  "  contraband,"  &c.,  were,  and  still  are,  subjects 
of  various  forms  of  sA'in  disease — mange,  lousiness,  &c.,  and  it  is 
probable  that  when  such  animals  are  introduced  into  decent  "  horse 
society,"  they  will  be  the  means  of  spreading  the  itch,  mange,  lousi- 
ness, &c. ;  hence,  I  propose  to  give  the  readers  of  this  work  some 
advice  on  the  subject. 

In  the  first  place,  almost  all  the  skin  diseases  prevalent  among 
army , Worses  owe  their  origin  to  neglect  and  filth.  Hence  cleanliness 
— brush  and  curry-comb — are  the  best  means  of  prevention,  and  are 
also  valuable  as  curative  agents. 

The  best  local  application  for  diseases  of  the  above  character,  is 
as  follows : 

Linseed  Oil, 

Tincture  of  Lobelia,      -r^       ,        , 

Pyroligneous  Acid,      ^  Equal  parts. 

Spirits  of  Turpentine,  ^ 
Mix.* 

Apply,  by  means  of  a  sponge,  a  portion  of  the  above  mixture  to 
all  parts  of  the  body ;  and  the  patient  should  have  an  occasional  dose 
of  sulphur  in  a  "  bran  mash :"  four  drachms  of  sulphur  constitute  a 
dose. 

The  next  best  advice  I  have  to  offer  is,  Government  horses  labor- 
ing under  any  of  the  notorious  prevalent  affections,  are  very  dear  at 
any  price  ;  hence,  touch  not,  purchase  not  /  for  good  money  and  bad 
horses  soon  part  company ;  and  as  the  old  saying  is,  "  that  is  the 
way  the  money  goes." 

A  great  many  of  the  horses  lately  disposed  of  by  the  Government 
are  the  subjects  of  a  skin  disease  known  to  medical  men  as  mange ; 
it  makes  its  appearance  as  a  pustular  eruption,  commencing  about 
the  regions  of  the  roots  of  the  hair  of  the  ma^ie  and  tail/  where, 
soon,  a  scurfy  state  of  the  skin  appears.  The  disease  soon  extends, 
and  makes  itself  visible  by  spots  denuded  of  hair  ;  these  spots  are 
the  seat  of  a  coating  of  mealy  powder,  which  can  be  rubbed  off. 
Throughout  the  whole  course  of  the  disease  the  animal  is  tormented 
with  an  incessant  itching  sensation,  and  is  continually  rubbing  and 
biting  himself.  It  should  be  generally  understood  that  this  malady 
is  highly  cofitagious,  and,  therefore,  can  readily  be  communicated 
from  one  horse  to  another;  hence,  the  affected  animal  should  not  be 
allowed  to  come  in  contact  with  others  not  so  affected. 

Mange,  or  itch,  sometimes  assumes  a  highly  inflammatory  type ; 
this  depends  somewhat  on  the  vascularity  of  the  surface  of  the  body, 
and  the  specific  irritability  of  the  skin  which  is  peculiar  to  some 
animals  of  the  sanguine  and  nervous  temperaments. 

In  some  stages  of  this  skin  affection,  a  close  examination  will 
detect,  under  the  scarf-skin,  little  watery  eminences,  known  as  vesi- 
cles /  and  at  the  base  of  the  same  can  be  seen  little  red  patches ;  this 

*  See  Magnetic  Lotion. 


PECULIAR    TO  HORSES.  69 

is  the  seat  of  the  parasite,  and  his  burrowing  course  can  be  distinctly 
traced  from  one  vesicle  to  another. 

The  parasites,  which  are  said  to  be  the  sum  and  substance  of  the 
disease,  are  termed  "Acari,"  and  their  "  manibles," — or  mouth — are 
a  sort  of  pincers,  pointed  and  shai-p,  which  enables  them  to  puncture 
the  common  integument,  or  skin  of  animals,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
imbibe  the  animal  juices,  on  which  they  thrive  and  propagate. 

The  remedy,  or  local  application,  previously  recommended,  often 
fails  in  curing  "Itch,  or  Mange,"  simply  because  it  is  not  rubbed  on 
the  surface  with  sufRcient  force  to  penetrate  the  scarf-skin;  hence,  it 
has  but  little,  if  any,  effect  on  the  concealed  parasite.  In  order  to 
obviate  this  difficulty,  all  excrementitious  matter  must  be  removed 
from  the  skin  by  means  of  a  good  stiff  brush,  which  brush  must  never 
be  used  on  any  other  animal. 

The  modern  method  of  applying  the  local  application  is  to  rub  it 
into  the  skin  by  means  of  a  thick  pair  of  leather  gloves,  and  some 
"  elbow  grease."  The  rubbing  should  be  repeated  daily  until  the 
disease  is  conquered.  Supposing  the  disease  to  be  "  stubborn"  and 
protracted,  the  external  application  must  be  rubbed  into  the  skin  by 
means  of  a  stiff  brush,  and  the  animal  should  be  daily  dosed  with 
the  following : 

Sublimated  Sulphur 1  drachm. 

Iodide  of  Potass 20  grains. 

Powdered  Poplar  Bark 1  drachm. 

To  be  incorporated  with  the  food. 


PITYPJASIS  IN  ARMY  HORSES. 

I  was  present  at  a  sale  of  army  and  contraband  horses  lately  held 
in  St.  Louis,  and  I  noticed  that  many  of  them  were  the  subjects  of  a 
skin  disease  known  to  the  members  of  our  profession  as  '■^ Pityriasis^'''' 
which  disease  chiefly  affected  the  face,  neck,  sides  of  the  chest,  and 
flank. 

The  disease  presented  circumscribed  patches,  more  or  less  denuded 
of  hair ;  the  epidermis,  or  external  covering  of  the  skin,  detached 
itself  from  the  sub-tissue  in  white  flakes,  yet  there  appeared  to  be 
no  itching  sensation  nor  impairment  of  the  general  health,  conse- 
quently I  am  led  to  infer  that  the  disease  is  not  contagious.  By  fric- 
tion with  linseed  oil  and  lime  water,  equal  parts,  a  cure  is  easily 
effected. 


BOTS  IN  HORSES. 

Bots  occur  chiefly  among  horses  that  have  been  recently  at  grass. 
They  are  generated  from  the  larvae  of  the  oestrus  equi  •  the  larvfe  are 
deposited  on  the  legs  and  shoulders,  or  parts  that  the  horse  is  apt  to 
lick  with  his  tongue  ;  they  then  pass  into  the  stomach  and  become 
attached  to  the  cutieular  portion  of  the  same.  In  the  succeeding 
summer  they  are  discharged  from  the  anus,  and  passing  through  the 


70  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

chrysalis  stage,  they  appear  as  a  gad-fly,  and  are  then  again  ready 
to  propagate  their  species. 

I  must  confess  that  in  former  years  I  advocated  the  theory,  as 
taught  at  the  schools  and  through  the  pages  of  our  text  books,  that 
bots  loere  innoxious,  and  seldom,  if  ever,  did  any  harm  to  horses. 
In  fact  one  of  our  most  distinguished  writers  on  veterinary  science, 
(the  late  Mr.  Percival),  suggested  that  "bots  might  serve  some  useful 
purpose  by  exciting  the  function  of  the  stomach,  they  then  arouse 
the  sluggishness  of  this  organ,  by  which  means  digestion  is  pro- 
moted." 

Mr.  Percival  also  promulgated  the  following  theory  :  "  You  may 
boldly  assert  that  bots  are  in  nowise  injurious;  still  you  cannot  per- 
suade the  world  so,  and,  therefore,  you  must  be  prepared  to  meet 
the  complaints  of  those  unbelievers,  who  will  now  and  then  declare 
that  their  horses  have  bots — which  must  be  got  rid  of.  But  I  know 
of  no  medicine  that  has  the  power  of  destroying  them;  and  even  if 
we  possessed  such,  I  am  not  sure  that  we  could,  even  when  dead, 
d,etach  them  from  the  cuticular  coat  of  the  stomach  to  which  they 
are  attached  with  small  horns." 

Hence,  in  accordance  with  the  dictum  of  the  schools,  and  popular 
medical  teachings,  I  formerly  was  a  medical  convert  to  their  false 
theories,  and  dare  not  use  my  own  experience  and  intelligence 
against  that  of  the  recognized  authorities.  But  "facts  are  stubborn 
things."  At  the  present  period,  having  emancipated  myself  from 
the  theory  of  the  schools  on  the  subject  under  consideration,  I  em- 
phatically declare  that  the  presence  of  bots  in  a  horse's  stomach  is 
conclusive  evidence  of  an  exciting  cause  of  disease,  peculiar  to  the 
digestive  organs ;  they  (the  bots)  are,  in  fact,  a  foreign  body  located 
in  the  interior  of  the  stomach,  one  of  the  most  sensitive  organs  of 
the  animal  economy ;  they  must  necessarily  pervert  the  function  of 
that  organ. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  a  large  number  of  bots  congregated  within 
the  stomach  near  the  termination  of  the  esophagus  must  interfere 
with  the  passage  of  food  into  that  organ,  as  the  following  case  will 
illustrate  :  I  was  requested  sometime  ago  to  see  a  horse,  the  subject 
of  a  climatic  aifection,  which  manifested  itself  in  a  discharge  from 
both  nostrils,  accompanied  by  some  soreness  of  throat.  The  animal 
had  been  treated  by  its  owner  and  appeared  to  be  doing  well,  up  to 
the  time  when  my  services  were  sought.  I  found  the  patient  be- 
dewed with  a  cold,  clammy  sweat,  small,  thread-like  pulse,  and 
hurried  respirations ;  his  head  was  extended  and  the  mouth  open; 
he  appeared  to  be  choking,  and  made  efforts  to  vomit.  I  explored 
the  esophagus,  and  found  at  the  lower  part  a  very  perceptible  tume- 
faction, as  if  it  were  impacted  with  food.  I  had  about  determined 
to  cut  down  upon  the  esophagus  and  make  an  attempt  to  remove 
whatever  might  be  the  cause  of  the  obstruction,  but  suddenly  the 
animal  fell  down,  went  into  convulsions,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few 
minutes  died. 

The  autopsy  revealed  the  presence  of  a  large  cluster  of  bots,  num- 
bering two  hundred  and  seventy-live,  located  within  and  around  the 
lower  part  of  the  gullet,  and  just  within  the  entrance  of  the  stomach  ; 
and  so  completely  had  they  obstructed  the  passage,  that  it  was  im- 
possible for  the  food  to  pass.     I  found  the  gullet  completely  packed 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  71 

with  masticated  hay,  and  about  three  inches  above  the  stomach  was 
a  rent  in  tlie  gullet  of  about  three  inches  in  length  ;  this  accounted 
for  the  sudden  death  of  the  horse.  There  were  no  signs  of  any  dis- 
ease about  the  animal  except  the  catarrhal  aftection  ;  hence,  the  bots 
may  be  considered  as  the  exciting  cause  of  the  death  of  this  animaL 

In  the  face  of  evidence  of  this  character,  and  on  the  strength  of 
past  experience,  together  with  what  Mr.  Gamgee  has  written  on  the 
subject,  I  do  believe  that  bots  are  often  injurious  to  horses,  and  I 
feel  it  a  duty  I  owe  to  those  who  have  perused  my  former  writings 
on  the  subject,  to  own  up  and  acknowledge  my  error.  In  the  case 
alluded  to  I  found  a  very  large  number  of  perforations  on  the  cu- 
ticular  coat  of  the  stomach,  which  tlie  bots  had  previously  made  and 
occupied  ;  so  it  would  appear  that  these  creatures  had  suddenly  left 
their  camping  gi'ound,  and  congregated  together  like  a  swarm  of 
bees  to  cause  the  death  of  the  horse. 

I  am  not  acquainted  with  any  remedy  that  would  be  likely  to  expel 
the  bots  from  the  stomach  ;  a  run  at  grass  will  probably  have  the 
desired  eifect ;  yet  if  the  reader  wishes  to  try  the  eflect  of  medicine, 
I  should  recommend  the  iise  of  the  following : 
Powdered  Poplar  Bark,  ) 
Sublimated  Sulphur,         V  Equal  parts. 
Powdered  Rock  Salt,       ) 

Mix  a  tablespoonful  in  the  food  twice  or  thrice  weekly,  and  feed  a 
few  carrots  occasionally. 


DERANGEMENT  OF  THE  STOMACH,  OR  INDIGESTION. 

Horses  the  subjects  of  indigestion,  usually  have  a  capricious  appe- 
tite ;  they  will  often  devour  their  bedding  rather  than  partake  of  the 
food  which  is  placed  before  them ;  they  occasionally  eructate  gas 
both  from  the  mouth  and  anus,  are  usually  afflicted  with  worms, 
have  a  foetid  breath,  are  subject  to  colic,  and  are  very  apt  to  become 
crib-biters. 

Treatment. — Give  the  animal  a  few  doses  of  the  following: 

Powdered  Gentian 2  ounces. 

"  Poplar  Bark 4       " 

Carbonate  of  Soda 2       " 

Chlorate  of  Potass 1       " 

Linseed  Meal |-  pound. 

Mix ;  divide  into  nine  parts ;  administer  one  as  a  drench,  or  mix 
it  with  the  food. 

The  American  Magnetic  Powders  can  be  used  in  lieu  of  the  above, 
and  are  equally  well  adapted  for  cattle  and  sheep. 


ACUTE  RHEUMATISM. 

The  faithful  servant  of  man — the  horse^does  not  enjoy  immunity 
from  the  above  distressing-disease.     The  same  causes  which  operate 


72  TEEATME>rT   OF   DISEASES 

on  the  system  of  man  to  develop  an  inflammatory  disease  of  this 
character,  are,  with  unerring  certainty,  operative  on  the  inferior 
animal. 

In  plain  language,  rheumatism  is  rheumatism,  in  whatever  system 
you  find  it ;  it  is  always  characterized  by  pain  in  "joints"  and  mus- 
cles ;  action  of  the  same  generally  augments  pain,  although  our 
patient,  the  horse,  cannot  always  succeed  in  convincing  his  owner 
of  the  fact.  It  occurs  among  men  and  horses  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year;  yet,  at  the  period  of  sudden  transitions  from  heat  to  cold,  it  is 
most  prevalent.  Animals  that  are  heated  by  exercise  and  then  suf- 
fered to  "  cool  oiF"  without  ordinary  care,  are  very  apt  to  become 
the  subjects  of  this  malady  ;  so  that  prevention,  to  a  certain  extent, 
is  within  the  province  of  all  rational  beings,  and  in  the  exercise  of 
preventive  measures,  we  may,  in  common  parlance,  "stave  oflT,"  for 
a  time,  an  acute  disease,  although  it  be  hereditary.  Rheumatism, 
like  gout,  is  hereditary  ;  no  educated  physician  ever  opposes  this 
proposition ;  it  develops  itself  in  the  predisposed.  The  indirect 
causes  are,  obstructed  perspiration.  Keep  the  animal  comfortably 
warm  and  avoid  undue  exposure,  and  then  we  have  a  remedy  against 
the  development  of  hereditary  rheumatism. 

Mr.  Finlay  Dun  thus  discourses  on  rheumatism  :  "  Rheumatism  is 
neither  so  common,  nor  are  its  symptoms  so  well  marked  in  horses, 
as  in  cattle.  When,  however,  it  does  occur  in  the  horse,  it  mani- 
fests the  same  well-known  appearances  which  characterize  it  in  all 
animals.  It.  afi'ects  the  fibrous  tissues  of  joints,  the  coverings  of 
muscles,  tendons,  valves  about  the  heart,  and  larger  vessels,  and 
manifests  a  peculiar  tendency  to  shift  from  one  part  of  the  body  to 
another,  often  aflfecting,  in  succession,  all  the  larger  joints;  at  one 
time,  chiefly  in  the  neck,  at  another,  in  the  back  and  loins,  while  in 
many  of  its  more  acute  attacks,  it  appears  to  involve  almost  every 
portion  of  fibrous  and  fibro-serous  tissues  throughout  the  body.  In 
all  its  various  types  it  exhibits  a  full,  strong,  hard,  and  unyielding 
pulse,  caused  by  the  inflammation  involving  the  serous  and  fibro- 
serous  tissues  of  the  heart  and  circulating  vessels.  During  its 
existence  various  excrementitious  matters  accumulate  in  the  blood, 
and  the  fibrinous  constituents  of  the  same  exceed  their  normal  pro- 
portions, as  indicated  by  the  production  of  the  buify  coat  on  the 
blood.  In  severe  or  badly  treated  cases,  the  inflammation  is  very 
apt  to  be  transformed  from  the  joints  and  muscles,  to  the  heart  and 
its  investing  membranes,  and  it  is  the  danger  of  this  change  in  the 
Beat  of  the  disease  that  renders  rheumatism  so  formidable,  and  often 
so  fatal.  It  always  leaves  the  parts  afl'ected  so  altered  as  to  be 
extremely  predisposed  to  subsequent  attacks,  and  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  this  altered  condition  is  reproduced  in  the  progeny  of 
rheumatic  subjects,  and  constitutes  in  them  the  inherent  tendency 
to  the  disease. 

"Horses  sometimes  suffer  from  rheumutic  inflammation  in  the 
fibrous  sheathing  envelops  of  the  muscles  of  the  neck,  constituting 
what  is  popularly  known  as  the  chords.  When  thus  aftVcted,  the 
animal  is  very  stiff",  remains  as  much  as  possible  in  one  position,  and 
is  unwilling  to  bend  his  neck  either  one  way  or  the  other,  or  to  ele- 
vate or  depress  his  head.  There  is  always  more  or  less  fever,  with 
a  strong,  full  pulse.     Sometimes,  as  in  lumbago,  in  the  human  sub- 


PECULIAR   TO    HORSES.  73 

ject,  it  affects  the  muscles  of  the  back  and  loins,  causing  stiiTncss, 
tenderness,  and  pain,  which  are  especially  evinced  on  moving  or 
turning  the  animal.  These  rheumatic  affections  are  very  readily 
produced  in  predisposed  subjects  by  exposure  to  rain  and  cold, 
especially  when  accompanied  by  overheating  or  exhaustion. 

"  Rheumatism  sometimes  occurs  in  horses  as  a  prominent  symptom 
of  that  epizootic  affection  which  usually  receives  the  much-abused 
title  of  influenza.  In  such  cases  the  rheumatism  is  of  a  somewhat 
more  sub-acute  or  chronic  character  than  common,  and  is  accompa- 
nied by  that  low,  debilitating  fever  so  often  the  concomitant  of  epi- 
zootic maladies.  It  usually  affects  all  parts  of  the  body  susceptible 
of  the  rheumatic  inflammation,  is  attended  particularly  by  thoso 
symptoms  which  indicate  disease  of  the  heart  and  pericardium,  as 
an  intermittent  pulse,  &c.,  and  often  terminates  fatally  by  effusions 
into  the  pleura  or  pericardium,  thus  causing  death  by  arresting  the 
motions  of  the  heart." 

The  reader  has  now  before  him  some  of  the  most  important 
features  of  acute  rheumatism,  and  I  shall  now  allude  to  the 
treatment. 

The  remedies  used  by  different  practitioners  are  :  Colchicum,  cal- 
omel, opium,  Dovers  powder,  tartar  emetic,  cimicfuga  racemosa, 
hellebore,  aconite,  iodine,  nitrate  of  potassa,  acetate  of  ammonia ; 
each  article  has  its  advocate,  and  at  certain  stages  is  indicated. 
I  have  great  faith  in  colchicum,  yet  have  often  succeeded  in  pro- 
ducing a  favorable  termination  in  the  use  of  guiacum,  nitrate  of 
potassa,  and  liquor  acetate  of  ammonia. 

The  theory  of  the  treatment  of  acute  rheumatism,  contemplates  an- 
tiphlogistics,  to  be  continued  so  long  as  inflammatory  symptoms  shall 
be  severe  ;  yet  we  must  exercise  ordinary  discretion  in  the  use  of 
antiphlogistic  remedies,  for  should  we  continue  them  until  all  inflam- 
matory symptoms  have  subsided,  we  may  purge,  nauseate,  and  bleed 
our  patients  into  the  vicinity  of  death's  door,  without  accomplishing 
our  object. 

The  old-fashioned  method  of  combating  an  inflammatory  diathe- 
sis, in  the  use  of  lancet  and  drastic  cathartics,  is  fast  dying  out,  at 
least  a  very  marked  change  for  the  better  is  observed,  and  practi- 
tioners, now,  depend  more  on  sedatives,  diuretics,  febrifuges,  and 
nauseants,  than  on  the  above.  One  of  the  principal  objects  in  the 
treatment  of  acute  rheumatism  is,  to  excite  diaphoresis  ;  and  in  this 
view  we  recommend  a  solution  of  acetate  of  ammonia,  known  as 
Liquor  Amtnonice  Acetatis ;  this  is  an  excellent  febrifuge,  and  dia- 
phoretic, and  may  be  given  in  broken  doses  to  the  amount  of  eight 
ounces  per  day.  One  or  two  drachms  of  nitrate  of  potassa  (com- 
mon salt  petre),  may  also  be  given  in  the  form  of  bolus,  yet  in  order 
to  insure  diaphoresis,  and  prevent  these  agents  from  passing  off  by 
the  kidneys,  the  heat  of  the  body  must  be  augmented  by  clothing. 

Practitioners  of  human  surgery  are  often  in  the  habit  of  using 
nitre,  in  much  larger  doses  than  we  have  dared  to  administer,  yet, 
in  some  cases,  with  marked  benefit  to  the  patient.* 

*  Nitrate  of  Potassa. — In  a  case  of  synovial  rheumatism  this  remedy  was  given  by  a  Boston 
physician,  in  a  single  dose  of  one  ounce,  dissolved  in  a  pint  and  a  half  of  barley  water.  This  was 
followed  by  one  grain  of  opium.  In  fifteen  hours  the  pulse  was  found  reduced,  and  the  pain  abso- 
lutely gone  ;  and  in  a  few  days  the  tongue  was  clean,  and  the  swelling  entirely  abated.    The  remedy 


74  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

These  agents  will  probably  moderate  the  heart's  action  and  re- 
lieve the  pain  ;  should  they  fail  to  do  so,  we  must  resort  to  nauseants 
and  sedatives.  The  most  popular  nauseant  for  horses,  is  white  helle- 
bore, yet  it  is  an  agent  that  can  only  with  safety  be  used  under  the 
direction  of  a  qualified  practitioner.  Mr,  Morton  recommends  it  to 
be  given  in  "  doses  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  grains,  every  four  or 
six  hours,  until  its  action  becomes  manifest.  As  soon  as  this  takes 
place,  the  repetition  of  the  dose  must  be  carefully  avoided,  lest 
efforts  to  vomit  are  produced." 

Should  we  fail  in  the  use  of  one  or  more  of  the  above  remedies, 
to  lessen  the  heart's  action,  and  the  pulse  be  fifty  or  more  per  min- 
ute, the  breathing  somewhat  hurried,  and  the  pain  excruciating,  then 
a  full  dose  of  medicine  must  be  given  (about  seven  drachms  of 
aloes).  It  may  be  proper  to  administer  a  physic  ball  in  the  early 
stage  of  the  disease,  and  pei'haps  employ  the  lancet ;  these  are  mat- 
ters which  may  be  left  discretionary  with  the  medical  attendant. 
If  a  mild  diaphoresis  can  be  brought  about,  it  wall  do  more  good 
than  we  can  expect  from  the  use  of  either  lancet  or  cathartic.  A 
constipated  state  of  the  bowels,  however,  must  be  overcome  either 
by  physic,  mashes,  clysters,  or  saline  aperients.  The  bicarbonate  of 
soda  is  a  very  valuable  adjunct  in  the  treatment  of  acute  rheuma- 
tism, because,  in  seven  cases  out  of  ten,  the  whole  system  is  in  rn 
acid  condition,  and  if  we  can  (in  the  language  of  the  chemist)  sat- 
urate it  with  alkali,  or  in  other  words,  establish  an  alkaline  condition, 
our  patient  is  on  the  high  road  to  health. 

Now,  in  case  a  cathartic  be  indicated,  we  must  consider  the  con- 
dition of  the  patient ;  he  may  be  suffering  excruciating  torment, 
from  inflammation  of  the  pleura,  pericardium,  or  sjTiovial  mem- 
branes, and  if  so,  our  object  must  be  to  mitigate  pain  in  the  use  of 
opium  or  some  other  narcotic  ;  should  the  patient,  therefore,  exhibit 
lameness  in  one  or  more  of  the  extremities,  and  the  joints  of  the 
hind  or  fore  limbs  become  swollen  and  painful,  a  local  application 
may  be  of  some  service,  and  in  this  view  we  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Sweet  Oil 3  ounces. 

Spirits  of  Ammonia J       " 

Tincture  of  Aconite  ....    2      " 

Chloroform 2      " 

Mix.     Apply  a  portion  to  the  affected  limb  or  joint,  twice,  daily. 
In  an  inflammatory  state  of  the  joints  it  is  customary  to  apply 


caused  neither  eraesis  nor  catharBis,  but  passed  ofiF  by  the  kidneys.  In  another  case  of  acute  syno- 
vial attack,  following  clironic  rheumatism,  the  same  dose  was  prescribed  without  any  good  effect, 
causing  active  catharsis.  Again,  half  an  ounce  of  nitrate  of  potassa,  largely  diluted,  was  given  every 
two  to  four  hours,  until  the  patient  took  three  ounces  in  eighteen  hours,  with  two  doses  of  opium  of 
one  grain  each,  with  entire  relief  to  the  pain  and  fever.  When  the  potash  was  reduced  to  drachm 
doses,  nausea  and  vomiting  followed,  which  were  relieved  by  vesication  with  aqua-ammonia,  the  blis- 
ter being  sprinkled  with  half  a  grain  of  morphine.  The  patient  recovered.  Another  piiysitian  had 
used  the  remedy  to  the  extent  of  half  an  ounce  in  twenty-four  hours,  for  three  successive  days.  He 
found  that  If  the  salt  be  given  well  diluted,  it  will  purge,  and  vice  verM-.  The  physicians  of  the  Mas- 
J5acliuselts  (leneral  Hospital  had  used  the  remedy,  one  ounce  in  twenty-four  hours,  without  good 
feffccts,  and  its  use  was  abandoned.  It  api>ears  to  be  conceded,  that  it  is  sale  to  give  the  remedy  in  this 
quantity,  although  symptoms  of  gastritis  sometimes  followed  its  use  ;  but  it  was  always  largely  diluted, 
and  generally  in  demulcent  liquids.  We  are  in  the  habit  of  giving  It  in  rheumatii^m  and  other  Inflam- 
matory affections,  in  doses  of  twenty  or  thirty  grains,  every  two  or  three  hours  during  the  i)erLod  of 
excitement  or  exacerbation,  combined  with  tartar  emetic;  but  have  been  deterred  from  the  exhibnion 
of  the  larger  doses  above  mentioned,  from  fear  of  its  toxical  effect.  We  have  found  this  combination 
particularly  useful  in  pneumonia. — Memphis  Medical  Jieoorder, 


PECULIAR   TO   nOKSES.  75 

cooling  applications,  yet  the  practice  is  open  to  tlie  followincj  objec- 
tion, viz.,  it  raay  augment  the  acute  symptoms  in  and  around  the 
joints,  while  it  lessens  theni  on  the  sartaoe  ;  nevertheless,  if  action 
of  the  cutaneous  vessels  can  be  maintained,  refrigerating  lotions  can- 
not do  harm. 

As  soon  as  the  inflammatory  symptoms  have  subsided,  and  all 
danger  of  internal  disease  seems  to  have  disappeared,  we  must  com- 
mence a  difierent  plan  of  treatment ;  we  must  give  tonics,  not  only 
to  promote  the  convalesence  of  the  patient,  but  also  in  order  to 
prevent  the  disease  assuming  a  chronic  type,  which  is  very  apt  to  be 
the  case  when  the  prostrating  plan  of  treatment  has  been  too  long 
continued,  or  practiced  with  undue  severity.  From  among  the  fol- 
lowing agents  the  practitioner  can  select  a  suitable  touic  :  SulphatQ 
of  iron,  cascarilla  bark,  gentian,  quill  bark,  quinine,  golden  seal, 
chamomile  flowers,  to  either  of  which  a  small  portion  of  ginger  may 
be  added,  provided  a  stimulant  be  indicated. 


CHRONIC  RHEUMATISM. 

Chronic  Rheumatism  is  generally  a  sequel  to  the  acnte,  yet  if  the 
subject  be  closely  watched,  a  train  of  phenomena  may  be  observed, 
very  similar  to  those  attending  the  acute  stage,  yet  diflfering  in  its 
gradual  accession,  obscure  state  of  the  phenomena,  and  less  func- 
tional and  structural  changes. 

At  times,  chronic  rheumatism  is  nothing  more  than  a  modified 
and  protracted  state  of  the  acute  stage  ;  it  is  migratory  like  the 
former,  attacking  this,  that,  or  other  tissues,  without  reference  to  its 
original  locality.  For  example,  a  horse  may,  after  a  brisk  driving 
and  subsequent  exposure,  become  lame  in  the  region  of  the  fore  ex- 
tremities. This  lameness  may,  perhaps,  be  defined  as  sub-acute,  or 
chronic  rheumatism,  from  the  fact  that  there  is  no  increase  in  arte- 
rial ,  or  respiratory  actions ;  but  the  first  thing  we  observe  is,  that 
the  subject  is  laboring  under  hyperti'ophy  of  the  heart,  perhaps  car- 
ditis^ or  endo- carditis,  and  this  is  proof  positive  of  the  migratory 
character  of  rheumatism, 

Jiut  why  should  rhenmatis')n  attack  the  heart  f  This  is  qtiite  au 
interesting  question,  and  thus  we  answer  it.  The  physiology  of  the 
heart  instructs  us  that  its  motions  are  governed  by  the  impression 
made  upon  the  susceptible  nervous  tissues.  Its  responses  are  physi- 
ological when  the  whole  system  is  unembarrassed.  It  is  the  centre 
not  only  of  circulation,  but  of  sympathy,  and  responds  to  the  im- 
pressions made  upon  the  general  system ;  so  that  if  any  disturbance 
shall  occur  in  the  animal  economy,  in  the  fonn  of  fever,  sj^asm,  «&c., 
or  the  horse  be  aflTrighted,  punished,  or  exposed  to  sudden  variations 
in  temperature,  the  heart  is  one  of  the  organs  first  deranged. 
Rheumatism,  therefore,  being  migratory,  is  apt,  in  traveling  from 
tissue  to  tissue,  to  locate  on  a  deranged  organ,  especially  when  that 
organ  is  one  so  easily  excited  as  the  heart. 

Causes  of  Rheumatism. — The  especial  cause  of  rheumatism  is, 
hereditary  j)redisposition.     In  certain   families,  morbid   tendencies 


76  TREATMENT    OF   DISEASES 

are  transmitted  from  parent  to  offspri  g,  and  display  themselves  in 
the  development  of  parental  defect  and  deformity.  There  are, 
also,  general  exciting  causes,  such  as  exposure  after  perspiring 
freely,  damp  and  cold  stables,  errors  in  diet,  or  stable  management, 
over-work,  &c.  j 

Principal  symptoms  of  chronic  rheumatism. — The  subject  is  gen- 
erally observed  to  travel  a  limited,  or  stiffened  gait  at  first,  when 
taken  out  of  the  stable.  He  aj^pears  '•'•stiffened  up,''''  as  the  saying 
is,  yet  '■'■  Umbers  up''''  as  he  proceeds.  This  depends,  however,  some- 
what on  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere,  for  the  animal  is  noth- 
ing less  than  a  walking  barometer,  and  the  slightest  alteration  in  the 
weather  affects  him  very  sensibly. 

The  disease  may  manifest  itself  in  the  diffuse  form,  affecting  the 
body  as  well  as  the  limbs  and  feet,  which  gives  to  the  animal  a  sort 
of  wiry,  spare  appearance;  yet  otherwise,  he  appears  well,  and  can 
play  his  part  at  the  game  of  food  as  well  as  any  horse.  In  the  ab- 
sence of  all  inflammatory  symptoms,  this  peculiar  and  almost  ruined 
condition  is  designated  by  some  as  general  founder  ;  and  as  no  one 
has  ever  drawn  a  line  of  demarcation  between  what  is  known  to 
medical  men  as  chronic  rheumatism,  and  what  the  rest  of  the 
world  denominate  chronic  founder,  we  shall  consider  that  chronic 
rheumatism  is  founder,  and  vice  versa. 

Passing  from  the  diffuse  form,  this  chronic  affection  may  locate  in 
the  muscles  of  the  trunk;  then  it  gets  the  name  of  '•'•  body  founder. '''' 
The  animal  is  then  unable  to  move  the  body  in  lateral  directions, 
without  showing  an  awkward  stiffness ;  and  on  being  made  to  turn 
a  corner,  when  going  at  a  smart  gait,  a  stiffness,  apparently  in  the 
spinal  regions,  is  generally  perceived. 

At  times  it  locates  in  the  pectoral  region,  and  in  consequence  of 
either  long  continued  pain  (which  is  known  to  exhaust  muscular  ro- 
tundity), or  innutrition,  the  parts  present  a  shrunken  or  hollow 
aspect.  In  the  absence  of  acute  symptoms,  this  is  the  veritable 
"  chest  founder,'''' 

A  disease  of  this  character  long  confined  to  one  or  both  shoulders 
fs  often  followed  by  a  similar  wasting  of  the  spinatus  muscles,  and 
is  often  termed  "  sweeney."  The  same  condition  of  parts,  however, 
may  be  the  consequence  of  diseased  feet,  for  we  often  observe  an 
atrophy,  or  wasting  of  the  above  muscles  in  animals  that  have  long 
been  the  subjects  of  chronic  laminitis,  and  altered  structures  about 
the  feet.  The  tcvvo.  founder  is  often  applied  to  a  ruined  state  of 
these  parts.  Chronic  I'heumatism  is  more  apt  to  localize  itself  than 
the  acute  kind,  and  once  located,  it  is  not  so  easily  removed,  although 
the  animal  may  receive  benefit  from  the  ordinary  means,  such  as 
warm  clothing,  and  stimulating  embrocations;  yet,  when  exposed  to 
wet  or  cold,  he  again  relapes  into  his  former  condition,  traveling 
stiff  and  lame  as  ever.  The  stiffness  and  lameness,  if  there  be  any, 
attending  chronic  rheumatism,  disappears  to  a  certain  extent  after  a 
brisk  trot,  whereas  acute  rheumatism  is  generally  aggravated  by 
exercise. 

Chronic  rheumatism  may,  however,  appear  in  one  spot  to-day, 
and  to-morrow  manifest  itself  in  another,  yet  the  affected  parts  ex- 
hibit none  ot  the  heat  or  tenderness,  difficult  resi)iration,  wiry 
pulse,  or  lunctional  disturbance   which  attend  the  acute   sta<IP^  so 


PECFLIAE   TO   H0K8ES.,  T7 

that  the  difference  between  the  acute  and  chronic  conditions  of  this 
affection  is  very  marked. 

Treatment  op  Chronic  Rhettmatism. — Local  treatment  con- 
sists in  the  application  of  vapor,  warm  blankets  and  leggings,  and 
stimulating  liniments,  the  patient  to  be  located  in  a  warm,  yet  ven- 
tilated stable. 

The  following  is  probably  one  of  the  best  local  applications: 

Sulphuric  Ether 2  ounces. 

Oil  of  Cedar 2       " 

Camphor 1       " 

Proof  Spirit 1  pint. 

Soft  Soap 1  gill. 

Dissolve  the  oil  of  cedar  in  the  sulphuric  ether ;  then  dissolve  the 
camphor  first,  and  soap  afterwards,  in  the  proof  spirit,  and  mix. 

Apply  a  portion  of  the  above  to  the  affected  parts,  night  and 
morning,  so  long  as  the  case  may  seem  to  require  it. 

Constitutional  Treatment. — The  constitutional  remedies  are 
various.     Those  entitled  to  our  greatest  confidence  are : 

First — Medicines  which  act  upon  the  cutaneous  vessels. 

/Secondly — Medicines  recognized  as  pure  tonics,  Avhich  impart 
tone  and  activity  to  organs,  without  inducing  subsequent  pros- 
tration. 

Thirdly — Medicines  known  as  general  stimulants,  that  excite 
without  depression. 

As  an  example  of  the  above,  we  give  the  following  formula: 

Thayer's  Fluid  Extract  of  Black  Cohosh,  diaphoretic 2  ounces. 

"  "  "  Gentian,  pure  tonic 2       " 

"  "  "  Jamaica  Ginger,  stimulant 1       " 

Syrup  of  Garlic,  anti-spasmodic 4       " 

Mix. 

One-fourth  of  this  mixture  may  be  given  night  and  morning,  in 
the  form  of  drench. 

Other  medicines  are  in  high  repute,  such,  for  example,  as  hydrio- 
date  of  potassa,  nitrate  of  potassa,  phosphate  of  ammonia,  camphor, 
aconite,  capsicum,  &c.,  &c. 


HERPES  IN  HORSES. 

The  term  "  Herpes,^''  is  derived  from  the  Greek,  which  signifies 
^^  I  creep,''"'  because  the  disease  creeps  and  spreads  about  the  skin. 

In  the  United  States,  I  believe,  this  cutaneous  affection  has  never 
raged  in  an  epizootic  form.  I  have  seen  and  treated  a  few  isolated 
cases,  and  the  subjects  of  the  same  were  of  a  lymphatic  and  scrofu- 
lous temperament.  In  these  cases,  it  appeared  as  an  eruption  in  the 
form  of  vesicles,  and  scurvy  roughness  of  the  skin ;  the  vesicles  or 
eruptions,  at  first,  were  in  irregular  clusters,  but  in  the  course  of  a 
few  days  they  became  confluent,  or  ran  together.  There  existed 
some  heat  and  tenderness  in  the  vicinity  of  the  diseased  localities — 
head,  neck,  shoulders  and  limbs — and  the  general  health  of  the  ani- 


78  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

mals  was  more  or  less  impaired.  After  a  period  of  from  ten  to 
twenty  days,  some  of  the  clusters  of  vesicles  were  ruptm-ed,  leaving 
a  rough  furfuraceous  scale. 

Tkeatment  of  Non-cutaneous  Herpes. — The  surface  of  the 
body  is  to  be  thoroughly  sponged  with  a  tepid  alkaline  wash,  which 

isists  of — 

"Warm  "Water 1  gallon. 

Carbonate  of  Soda 4  ounces. 

This  will  remove  all  extraneous  and  morbid  matter  from  the  sur 
,ace.  The  animal  must  be  rubbed  perfectly  dry  before  the  "  herpes 
lotioti'''  is  applied. 

Hc-rpes  Lotion.  Glycerine,  two  ounces  ;  Oil  of  Turpentine,  four 
ounces  ;  Cod  Liver  Oil,  one  pint.     Mix. 

Sponge  the  affected  parts  every  night,  prior  to  the  reapplication 
of  the  lotion.  The  parts  to  which  it  has  been  applied,  are  to  be 
rubbed  dry  by  means  of  a  piece  of  coarse  crash.  During  the  period 
of  the  local  treatment,  the  patient  should  get  a  few  doses  of  altera- 
tive medicine.     The  following  is  a  good  example : 

Fluid  Extract  of  Sassafras 7  ounces. 

Hydriodate  of  Potass 1  drachm. 

Dose  :  one  ounce  daily. 

The  most  alarming  form  of  Herpes  is  the  epizootic,  and  as  the 
husbandmen  of  this  country  have  great  interests  at  stake,  yet  know 
very  little  about  its  nature  and  symptoms,  I  here  introduce  some 
remarks  from  the  pen  of  Prof  Papa : 

"At  the  commencement  of  1849,  Count  Faverage  invited  Prof. 
Papa  to  the  valley  of  Borne,  in  Savoy,  to  see  a  disease  affecting  ani- 
mals, and  which  even  spread  to  men.  Every  facility  was  offered  by 
Government  to  Prof  Papa,  and  many  persons  having  affected  ani- 
mals were  requested  to  permit  their  inspection,  and  indeed,  threat- 
ened with  a  fine  if  they  did  not.  Papa  saw  about  three  hundred 
horses  and  mules  affected.  The  disease  appeared  in  circular  patches 
of  furfuraceous  scales,  with  greyish-white  scabs.  These  patches 
had  usually  well-defined  margins,  about  the  size  of  a  dollar,  or  five- 
shilling  piece.  Usually  they  were  isolated,  but  at  other  times  they 
were  confluent  or  running  together  in  groups.  The  head,  neck, 
withers,  shoulders  and  loins  were  the  parts  chiefly  affected ;  more 
rarely  the  upper  portion  of  the  extremities,  and  never  on  the  lower 
part  of  the  limbs,  chest,  or  belly.  The  malady  commences  Avith  a 
violent  itching,  and  an  eruption  in  small  .circumscribed  points,  about 
the  size  of  a  lentil,  is  witnessed.  The  scabs  form,  with  the  exuda- 
tion drying  and  entangling  cuticle  and  hairs.  In  the  vicinity  of  the 
first,  other  eruptive  spots  appeared,  which  widening,  became  conflu- 
ent, aifd  ran  into  one  anothei-,  especially  where  the  skin  is  folded, 
and  animals  have  a  chance  of  rubbing  themselves.  A  scab  forms  on 
the  sore  surface,  and  the  surface  beneath  is  red  and  tumefied,  but  in 
a  little  while  desquamation  occurs.  A  very  careful  microscopical 
examination  failed  to  indicate  the  existence  of  any  acari." 

The  disease  is  contagious,  and  Papa  says,  all  those  who  come  more 
or  less  in  contact  with  herpetic  horses  and  mules,  and  especially  the 
conductors  of  the  same,  were  covered  on  the  arms,  logs,  chest  and 


PECULIAR   TO    HOESES.  79 

face  with  prnriginons  eruptions,  limited  and  circumscribed,  some- 
times isolated,  occasionally  confluent,  in  the  form  of  red  patches 
covered  with  papula3  and  vesicles,  which  become  encrusted  with 
bi'ovvnish-yellow  scabs,  beneath  which  purulent  deposits  formed.  In 
consequence  of  the  violent  pruritis  attending  this  disease,  it  was 
believed  to  be  scabies  or  itch  by  the  people,  and  though  in  many 
houses  individuals  were  aftected,  they  were  ashamed  to  confess  it, 
and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  Papa  collected  information  on 
the  subject;  but  having  gained  the  confidence  of  the  latter,  the  peo- 
ple more  freely  related  their  cases  to  him.  The  first  to  be  affected, 
were  those  entrusted  with  dressing  the  diseased  animals.  The  parts 
first  attacked  were  the  articular  regions,  about  the  forearm,  arm, 
face,  and  rarely  the  lower  limbs. 

Papa  describes  one  of  many  cases  of  direct  contagion.  It  occurred 
in  a  lad  of  sixteen,  who  had  jumped  on  the  bare  back  of  an  affected 
horse  to  take  it  to  a  watering  place.  Two  days  afterwards,  on  the 
inside  of  the  thighs  and  legs,  from  the  pubis  to  the  calf  of  the  leg, 
there  was  extreme  pruritis.  The  skin  became  of  reddish-brown 
color,  and  vesicles  full  of  a  yellowish  lymph  formed,  which  gave  way 
to  vesicular  patches  or  scabs,  rough  to  the  touch,  first  isolated,  and 
afterwards  confluent. 

The  transmission  occurred  from  horse  to  horse,  horse  to  man,  and 
from  man  to  man  ;  in  fact,  persons  who  never  touched  an  affected 
horse,  were  infected  from  individuals  they  came  in  contact  with.  A 
soldier  having  arrived  in  perfect  health  from  his  regiment,  slept  with 
his  brother  who  suffered  from  the  disease,  and  became  afiected.  The 
wives  of  carters  not  only  took  the  disease,  but  communicated  it  to 
their  sucking  infants. 


WATERING  HORSES. 

Although  few  persons  pay  proper  attention  to  this  department  of 
stable  management,  yet  a  little  reflection  will  prove  of  how  much 
importance  it  is,  that  the  horse  should  be  supplied  with  such  water 
as  is  most  palatable  to  him.  Horses  have  a  great  aversion  to  what 
is  termed  hard  water,  and  have  been  known  to  turn  away  from  the 
filthy  stuff  found  in  the  troughs  of  some  of  our  stables :  the  water 
of  wells  and  pumps  in  our  seaport  towns  is  usually  hard,  and  pos- 
sesses a  degree  of  coldness  not  at  all  congenial  with  the  palate  oi 
the  animal.  The  intense  coldness  of  well  water,  in  the  summer 
months,  has  been  known  to  gripe,  and  produce  spasmodic  colic, 
injuring  the  animal  in  other  ways. 

Pure  water  will  never  hurt  a  horse,  if  given  to  him  at  proper 
times  and  in  small  quantities ;  the  English  grooms  generally  water 
from  a  bucket  three  times,  daily  ;  water  given  in  this  manner 
scarcely,  if  ever,  does  harm ;  but  let  a  horse  be  driven  hard,  and 
then  allow  him  to  go  to  the  trough  and  imbibe  water,  ad  libitum^ 
more  than  he  actually  needs,  the  same  may  prove  injurious,  and 
result  in  some  disease  known  as  '•'•  founder P  The  latter  clause  is  in 
accordance  with  the  popular  theories  of  the  day,  which  are  always 
open  to  argument.  Hence,  we  shall  now  examine  into  the  merits  oi 
the  case. 


80  TKEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

I  don't  believe  one-half  the  multitude  of  stories  that  are  told 
about  water  '•'■foundering  horses  f  in  a  great  majority  of  cases  the 
blame  rests  with  Mr.  Fastman,  who  has  either  over-driven  or  over- 
worked the  poor  brute,  or  else  has  suffered  hira,  when  heatod,  to 
cool  off  without  the  necessary  care  and  attention  which  should 
always  be  observed  when  animals  are  fatigued  or  perspiring  freely. 

Hard  usage,  willful  neglect,  and  wanton  cruelty,  are  more  likely  to 
produce  disease  than  the  "universal  beverage"  so  acceptable  to  the 
palate  of  a  weary  or  thirsty  horse.  How  often  do  we  see  a  "^e<" 
horse  come  into  the  stable  all  exhausted  and  used-up,  scarcely  able 
to  advance  one  limb  before  another  !  Examine  into  the  facts,  and 
we  shall  find  that  the  powers  of  the  subject  have  perhaps  been  over- 
taxed. He  has  been  driven  too  far,  or  at  too  rapid  a  rate  for  the 
present  state  of  his  constitution  to  endure ;  and  perhaps  he  has  not  had 
sufficient  nourishment  to  repair  the  waste  incidental  to  the  living 
mechanism,  under  the  states  of  rapid  and  protracted  labor.  Is  not 
this  enough  to  account  for  the  used-up  condition  ?  Is  it  not  more 
rational  to  suppose  that  abuse  of  the  respiratory  organs,  and  those 
of  locomotion,  operates  far  more  unfavorably  on  the  horse  than  wa- 
ter ?  It  is.  But  Mr.  Fastman  must,  if  there  be  any  blame  rightly 
belonging  to  him,  try  to  shift  the  same  from  his  shoiilders,  and  there- 
fore he  avails  himself  of  a  popular  error,  "  He  drank  too  much  loater.''^ 
Yet  the  individual  has  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  precise  quantity 
needed.  We  might  say  the  same  as  regards  our  dray  horses,  whose 
labors  are  very  fatiguing.  They  come  from  their  work,  and  as  soon 
as  unharnessed,  go  to  the  trough  and  imbibe  from  one  to  three  buckets 
without  any  bad  effect.  Some  horses  need  more  water  than  others  ; 
the  kind  of  work,  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere,  and  the  nature 
of  the  food,  whether  it  be  wet  or  dry,  all  tend  to  diversify  an  ani- 
mal's want.  The  domesticated  horse  requires  a  bountiful  supply  of 
good  water;  his  body  is  composed  of  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the 
same,  and  he  can  no  more  exist  without  it  than  he  can  without  food. 

Consider  for  a  moment  the  condition  of  the  people  of  this  city 
during  the  sultry  season.  Thirst  almost  amounts  to  a  disease  ;  to 
allay  the  same,  they  are  continually  imbibing  water,  rendered  cold, 
hot,  sour,  sweet  or  alkaline,  just  as  fancy  dictates,  or  as  fishion  pre- 
vails; cold  ices  and  other  fixings  are  called  into  requisition  to 
smother  the  fire  of  thirst  that  rages  within ;  everybody  partakes 
freely,  the  young  and  the  aged,  the  exhausted  and  vigorous ;  the 
laborer,  exhausted  by  a  hard  day's  work,  and  the  rich  man,  of  no 
work — each  and  all  are  doing  their  best  to  see  the  bottom  of  the 
pitcher,  and  to  pitch  their  bodies  into  the  watery  element;  yet,  after 
all,  how  few  persons  complain  of  any  bad  effects  from  the  same. 
'.  Inquire  into  the  history  of  some  of  the  acute  maladies  that  are 
supposed  to  arise  from  water-drinking,  and  it  will  be  found  that 
many  of  the  sufierers  have  a  peculiarity  of  constitution,  which  ren- 
ders them  amenable  to  the  laws  of  primogenial  disease,  which, 
although  latent,  under  oi-dinary  circumstances,  can,  by  disturbing 
the  life  forces,  through  neglect,  cruelty  and  over-Avork,  be  developed 
at  almost  any  time  of  life. 

At  this  stage,  my  argument  as  regards  what  water  "  will  not  do  " 
ends.  I  have  at  the  commencement  admitted  that,  under  certain 
circumstances,  if  a  horse  be  permitted  to  imbibe  too  much,  it  may 


PECULIAK   TO   HOKSES.  81 

irjjure  him;  but  this  is  rather  a  faulty  assuraption,  because  no  one 
can  ever  determine  the  precise  quantity  suitable  to  meet  the  wants 
of  all  acimals,  and  therefore  the  assumptioa  falls  to  the  ground. 

Horses  should,  in  warm  weather,  be  watered  often,  say  two  to 
three  quarts  every  three  or  four  hours,  provided  the  horse  be  at 
work ;  should  he  be  in  a  cool  stable  enjoying  a  sort  of  lazy  life,  he 
will  require  less,  and  three  times  a  day  will  be  often  enough  to  sup- 
ply his  wants. 

"  Strange  water,''''  as  it  is  termed,  is  not  good  for  horses,  yet  when 
given  in  small  quantities  at  a  time,  seldom,  if  ever,  does  harm. 

Stagnant  and  filthy  water  is  always  more  or  less  injurious,  and 
should  never  be  offered  to  so  noble  an  animal  as  a  horse. 

On  the  road  a  horse  may  be  watered  often,  provided  he  have  but 
a  small  quantity  at  a  time ;  if  he  obtain  more,  it  occupies  space  in 
the  abdominal  cavity,  and  in  rapid  motion  interferes  with  the  physi- 
ological action  of  important  viscera. 

Watering  immediately  after  a  full  meal  is  a  practice  highly  cen- 
surable ;  for  at  such  times  water  retards  digestion,  and  the  food, 
instead  of  being  digested,  is  apt  to  undergo  a  process  of  fermentation. 


TEETHING  IN  HORSES. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  many  young  colts  suffer  as  much  pain  in 
cutting  their  teeth  as  is  the  case  with  children  ;  and  the  pain  does 
not  always  arise,  as  some  persons  suppose,  from  irritation  of  the 
raucous  membrane  of  the  mouth,  occasioned  by  the  point  of  the 
tooth,  but  frequently  from  pressure  on,  and  irritation  of,  the  dental 
nerve.  The  remedy  {^instead  of  tormenting  the  suffering  creature 
with  a  red  hot  iron  for  thepurpose  of'-'-  burning  out  the  lampas^''  as 
some  jyersons  profess  to  do)  is  a  common  thumb  lancet.  Make  an  in- 
cision through  the  gian,  or  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth,  in  the 
region  of  the  tusks  or  incisors,  wherever  the  difficulty  may  be,  and 
relief  is  almost  immediate.  This  is  a  sure  remedy  to  relieve  local 
distension  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth,  if  it  exist,  and 
at  the  same  time  prevents  the  fang  of  the  tooth  from  irritating  the 
dental  nerve. 

Sharp  and  Projecting  Teeth. — Owing  to  the  unequal  wear  of 
some  horses'  teeth,  they  become  sharp  on  the  outside  margins,  and 
are  then  apt  to  irritate  and  perhaps  lacerate  the  buccal  membrane  of 
the  cheeks.  Should  this  be  the  case,  we  generally  find  that  the  sali- 
vary secretion  is  augmented,  mastication  is  imperfect,  and  the  sub- 
ject generally  looses  flesh,  and  appears  unthrifty.  The  remedy  is  a 
mouth  rasp.  By  means  of  this  instrument,  the  sharp  or  projecting 
edges  may  be  smoothed. 

Inelamed  and  Tender  Mouth. — Inflammation,  tenderness,  and 
tumefaction  of  the  horse's  mouth,  arising  from  whatever  cause  it  may, 
generally  indicates  the  application  of  cooling  and  astringent  lotions  ; 
and  light  diet  of  bran  mashes,  cooling  lotion,  composed  of  solution 
of  hydrochlorate  of  ammonia,  or  chlorate  of  potassa,  are  indicated 
when  the  mouth  is  hot  or  inflamed.  A  tender  mouth,  accompanied 
by  corrugations  and^ relaxation  of  the  soft  palate,  known  as  "  lam- 


82  TKEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

pas,''"'  requires  a  few  applications  of  some  astringent  lotion,  made  of 
alum,  gum  catechu,  raspberry  leaves,  white  oak  bark,  or  diluted 
tincture  of  muriate  of  iron. 


LIGHT  IN  STABLES. 

Stables  should  be  so  constructed,  by  the  insertion  of  windows  in 
various  parts  of  the  building,  that  they  should  be  "  light  as  day.'^'* 
A  '■'■dark  "  stable  is  only  a  suitable  black  hole — prison  house  for  such 
a  vicious  specimen  of  the  equine  race  as  the  notorious  "  Cruiser.'''* 
It  is  also  the  very  worst  location  for  any  kind  of  animal.  Sir 
A.  Nylie  (who  was  long  at  the  head  of  the  medical  staff  in  the  Rus- 
sian army)  states  that  the  cases  of  disease  on  the  dark  side  of  an 
extensive  barrack,  at  St.  Petersburg,  have  been  uniformly,  for  many 
years,  in  the  proportion  of  three  to  one  to  those  on  the  side  exposed 
to  a  strong  and  uniform  light,  Humboldt  has  also  remarked  that, 
among  bipeds,  the  residents  of  South  America,  who  wear  very  little 
clothing  (thus  allowing  the  cutaneous,  as  well  as  the  orbital  surfaces, 
to  receive  a  free  ray  of  light),  enjoyed  immunity  from  various  dis- 
eases Avhich  prevailed  extensively  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
dark  rooms  and  underground  locations ;  and  so  excellent  an  author- 
ity as  Linnaeus  contends  that  the  constant  exposure  to  solar  light  is 
one  of  the  causes  which  render  a  summer  journey  through  high 
northern  latitudes  so  peculiarly  healthful  and  invigorating.  Dr.  Ed- 
wards has  also  remarked  that  persons  who  live  in  caves  or  cellars, 
or  in  very  dark  or  narrow  streets,  are  apt  to  produce  deformed  chil- 
dren ;  and  that  men  who  work  in  mines  are  liable  to  disease  and 
deformity. 

Light,  therefore,  is  a  condition  of  vital  activity  ;  and  in  view  only 
of  preserving  the  sight  of  a  horse,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that 
while  he  be  the  habitant  of  the  stable,  his  optics  shall  have  free  access 
to  the  sun's  rays. 

If  a  horse  was  in  the  same  condition  as  a  polype,  with  no  organ 
of  vision,  which  shuns  light,  a  dark  stable  might  prove  to  be  his 
earthly  paradise ;  but  as  the  horse  has  special  organs  of  vision,  evi- 
dently susceptible  to  the  influence  of  light,  and  the  integrity  of  his 
organism,  or  part  of  the  same,  depending  entirely  on  the  admission 
of  light,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  stables  should  be  constructed 
accordingly. 


GLANDERS. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  terrible  diseases  to  which  the  horse  is  sub- 
iect.  In  fact,  it  is  also  terrible  to  man,  for  it  is  communicable  from 
horse  to  man,  and  many  cases  are  on  record  going  to  show  that 
whole  families  have  been  destroyed  by  absorbing  the  glandered 
virus.  The  disease  has  been  styled  "  the  phthisis,  or  consumption 
of  the  equine  race,"  from  the  fact  that  the  lungs  of  the  glandered 
Bubject  are  the  seat  of  tubercles,  and  many  other  features  of  the 
disease  resemble  those  attending  human  consumption.  Glanders  is, 
however,  unlike  consumption. 


PECULIAR   TO   nOKSES.  83 

C.^usE  OF  GnA-NDERS. — In  former  years,  glanders  was  very  prev- 
alent among  horses  in  the  city  of  London.  At  that  time  very  little 
attention  was  paid  either  to  ventilation  or  cleanliness.  At  the  pres- 
ent time,  however,  the  disease  is  rare,  from  the  fact  that  horses  are 
now  better  treated  and  cared  for  than  then. 

The  predisposing  causes  of  glanders  pi-obably  lurk  in  breed,  and 
when  such  animals  become  the  subjects  of  neglected  or  protracted 
nasal  discharges  and  nasal  gleet,  glanders  is  very  apt  to  supervene. 

The  direct  cause  of  glanders  is  innoculation.  Animals  become 
innoculated,  in  con^sequence  of  the  virus,  or  discharge  from  the  nose, 
coming  in  contact  Avilh  an  absorbing  or  highly  vascular  surface ;  by 
infection,  also,  the  malady  is  propagated ;  for  example,  should  a 
glandered  horse  be  placed  in  a  filthy,  unventilated  stable,  beside  an 
unaffected  animal,  the  latter  will  soon  become  a  victim  to  the 
disease. 

The  indirect  causes  of  glanders  are  impure  air,  exposure,  harrass- 
ing  marches,  overwork,  and  food  of  bad  quality.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered, also,  that  the  disease  may  have  a  spontaneous  origin. 

Whenever  a  large  number  of  horses  are  congregated  together 
in  a  very  limited  space,  glanders  is  apt  to  occur.  Mr.  Percival 
contends — 

1.  That  farcy  and  glanders,  which  constitute  the  same  disease, 
are  propagated  through  the  medium  of  stabling,  and  this  we  believe 
to  be  the  more  usual  way  in  which  the  disease  is  communicated 
from  horse  to  horse. 

2.  That  infected  stabling  may  harbor  and  retain  the  infection  for 
months,  or  even  years  ;  and  although  by  thoroughly  cleansing,  and 
making  use  of  disinfecting  means,  the  contagion  might  be  destroyed, 
yet  it  would  not  be  wise  to  occupy  such  stables  immediately  after 
such  supposed  or  alleged  disinfection. 

3.  The  virus  or  poison  of  glanders  may  lie  for  months  in  a  state 
of  incubation  in  the  horse''s  constitution,  before  the  disease  breaks 
out.     Of  this  we  have  had  the  most  positive  evidence. 

4.  That  Avhen  a  stable  of  horses  becomes  contaminated,  the  dis- 
ease often  makes  fearful  ravages  among  them  before  it  quits  ;  and  it 
is  only  after  a  period  of  several  months'  exemption  from  all  disease 
of  the  kind,  that  a  clean  bill  of  health  can  be  rendered. 

Nature  of  Glanders. — It  consists  of  a  discharge  from  the  left 
nostril,  of  matter,  which,  by  transfer  or  innoculation,  will  produce 
the  disease  in  another  animal  (of  the  equine  or  human  species), 
and  which  discharge  is,  sooner  or  later,  accompanied  by  chancrous 
ulcerations  on  the  lung  membianes  of  the  nose,  and  by  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  lymphatus  glands  within  the  angles  of  the  lower  jaw. 
In  the  latter  stages  of  the  disease,  a  discharge  takes  place  from  both 
nostrils. 

The  deep  seated  lymphatus  are  also  affected,  and  finally  tubercu- 
lar deposits  take  place  in  the  lungs. 

The  subject  of  glanders  usually  has  an  unhealthy  appearance, 
loses  flesh,  and  finally  becomes  a  "dog  horse." 

The  disease  sometimes  assum(.-s  the  acute  form,  and  runs  through 
its  course  with  fearful  rapidity.  The  chronic  glanders  is  more  insidi- 
ous in  its  character,  and  the  affected  animal  may  live  a  long  time. 


81  TKEATMENT    OF    DISEASES 

Treatment  of  Glanders. — I  am  satisfied  that  there  is  no  spe 
cific  remedy  for  a  pure  case  of  glanders.  Experiments  on  a  very 
extensive  scale  have  been  made  in  England  and  France,  by  some  of 
the  most  experienced  veterinary  surgeons,  and  they  do  not  offer  very 
much  encouragement  for  us  to  attempt  the  cure  of  glanders.  The 
fact  is,  there  are  very  few  cases  of  cure  on  record,  and  the  same  re- 
marks apply  to  the  cure  of  confirmed  phthisis,  or  consumption. 

Whoever  undertakes  to  attempt  the  cure  of  this  awful  malady 
must  remember  that  he  is  running  a  great  risk  of  losing  l»is  own 
life,  for  the  absorption  of  the  least  particle  of  the  virus  will  cause 
death  in  one  of  the  most  horrible  of  all  forms. 

My  advice  is,  that  when  a  horse  shows  unmistakable  symptoms 
of  pure  glanders,  that  he  be  destroyed. 

In  cases  of  suspected  glanders,  when  the  diagnostic  symptoms 
cannot  be  detected,  it  may  be  proper  to  place  the  animal  under  med- 
ical treatment ;  for,  in  the  absence  of  such  symptoms,  the  case  may 
happen  to  be  one  of  nasal  gleet,  for  which  I  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Phosphate  of  Lime 6  ounces. 

Powdered  Poplar  Bark 8       " 

"  Blood-root 2       " 

"  African  Ginger 4       * 

Mix.     Dose,  one  omice  daily. 

In  allusion  to  the  curability  of  pure  glanders,  it  may  be  proper  for 
me  to  remark  that  many  men  contend  that  they  have  cured  glanders. 
This  arises  from  the  fact  that  they  made  a  mistake,  and  confounded 
glanders  with  another  disease. 

In  view  of  furnishing  the  reader  with  collateral  evidence  as  re- 
gards the  causes  of  glanders,  I  introduce  the  following  quotations  : 

"  The  causes  of  glanders  may  be  considered  under  the  general 
heads  of  predisposing  and  exciting. 

"  Predisposition  may  lurk  in  breed,  in  constitution,  in  age;  or  it 
may  be  generated  through  the  influence  of  soil,  climate,  aliment,  c&c, 

"  Breed,  we  have,  I  think,  pretty  satisfactory  evidence,  carries 
with  it  predisposition  to  certain  diseases.  To  use  a  vulgar,  but  ex- 
pressive phraseology,  "  they  rvm  the  blood."  Periodic  ophthalmia 
is,  perhaps  the  most  striking  instance  of  this.*  Roaring,  according 
to  many  authorities,  is  another.f  "Whether  glanders  or  farcy  can  be 
ranked  in  the  class  of  hereditary  maladies,  I  am  not  prepared  to 
say.  Leblanc  hesitates  not  to  assert  that  it  can.  I  should  certainly 
give  it  as  my  opinion  that  inasmuch  as  tender  or  delicate  con- 
stitutions are  inherited  by  horses,  to  the  same  extent  they 
become  predisposed  to  certain  diseases ;  to  those,  in  particular, 
affecting  the  respiratory  organs,  and  with  these,  to  glanders ;  and 
the  same  appears  to  be  the  notion  of  Dupuy,  when  he  informs  us 
that  the  *  lank,  ill-conditioned  horse,  the  one  that  is  soft  in  consti- 
tution, and  soon  knocked  up  at  his  work,'  is  the  subject  the  most 
likely  to  breed  or  contract  '  the  tuberculous  affection,'  as  he  calls 
glanders  and  farcy.  Furthermore,  a  constitution  originally  strong 
and  resistant,  may  be  reduced  to  a  weak  or  *  ill-conditioned '  sus- 

*  See  Part  1,  Vol.  Ill,  of  the  Hypopathology,  page  90,  et  tequ&nt, 
t  See  Vol.  11  of  the  Hypopathology,  page  29. 


PECULIAR   TO   HOESES.  85 

ceptible  state,  by  bad  keep,  over-work,  exposure  to  cold  and  wet, 
&c.,  or  through  the  faUure  of  any  of  its  principal  organs,  especially 
of  the  lungs.  Constitutional  predisposition  may,  therefore,  prove  to 
be  either  natural  or  acquired. 

"Age,  we  well  know,  has  considerable  influence  in  predisposing 
horses  to  take  diseases  of  the  air  passages — to  take  catarrh,  bron- 
chitis, strangles,  glanders.  We  have  no  reason,  however,  to  suppose 
that  this  influence  is  operative  in  the  case  of  glanders  in  particular^ 
for  the  same  reason  that  a  young  horse  is  more  likely  to  catch  a  cold 
than  an  old.  For  the  same  reason,  should  he  go  within  the  reach 
of  the  exciting  causes  of  glanders,  he  may  be  considered  as  especi- 
ally predisposed  to  that  disease.  Out  of  forty  cases  of  farcy  and 
glanders  occurring  in  the  Ordnance,  under  the  superintendence  of 
my  father,  and,  latterly,  of  myself,  the  ages  of  which  happen  to  be 
registered,  one  was  three  years  old,  one  four  years  old,  six  in  the 
sixth  year,  six  in  their  seventh  year,  six  in  eighth,  five  in  their  ninth, 
eleven  ten  years  old  and  upwards.  Consequently,  so  far  as  this 
brief  account  goes,  the  adult  and  middle  ages  ai:)pear  to  sufier  most 
from  the  disease. 

"  In  respect  to  climate  and  soil,  it  would  appear  that  glanders 
is  a  rare  disease  in  cold,  and  absolutely  unknown  in  hot  climates,  in 
Arabia  and  Africa,  to  which,  I  believe,  we  may  add  India ;  my 
cousin,  Mr.  Charles  Percival,  having  informed  me  that,  during  his 
eight  years'  residence  in  Bengal,  while  serving  in  the  eleventh 
light  dragoons,  quartered  at  Meerut  and  Cawnpooi'e,  he  had  not  a 
single  case  either  of  farcy  or  glanders.  M.  Saunier,  veterinary  sur- 
geon to  the  king  of  Portugal,  assured  Dupuy  that  no  case  of  glan- 
ders had  occurred,  to  his  knowledge,  during  the  thirty  years  he  had 
been  living  at  Lisbon.  This  was  prior  to  the  occupation  of  that 
country  by  British  troops.  At  the  time  of  the  Peninsular  cam- 
paign, every  body  in  our  army  knew  that  both  farcy  and  glanders 
prevailed  to  a  great  extent,  particularly  among  the  mules  that  were 
in  our  employ  as  bat  animals.  To  what  such  dread  changes  were 
owing — why  a  country,  at  one  time  said  to  be  free  from  any  such 
disease,  should,  some  years  after,  become,  as  it  were,  the  very  focus 
of  contamination — is  a  fact  Avhich,  if  I  mistake  not,  may  prove  of 
some  importance  to  us  in  the  investigation  we  are  about  to  make  in 
the  exciting  causes  of  glanders. 

"Wet  and  cold  are  at  all  times  prejudicial  to  horses'  constitutions, 
and  especially  to  those  either  very  young  or  very  old  ;  and  though 
the  better  their  feed  the  less  they  are  likely  to  suffer  under  such  ex- 
posure, yet  will  these  agents  predispose  and  be  very  apt  to  lay  the 
foundation  for  pulmonary,  mesenteric,  and  glandular  disease,  which, 
in  the  end,  will  produce  farcy  and  glanders. 

"  Before  we  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  the  second  class  of 
causes,  viz.,  the  exciting  causes,  it  will  be  well  for  us  to  inform  our- 
selves of  the  opinion  of  such  veterinary  writers,  foreign  as  well  as 
British,  as  appear  to  have  paid  much  attention  to  the  subject,  and 
particularly  to  that  all-important  branch  of  it,  contagion  ;  a  branch 
which,  at  one  period  of  time,  has  had  supporters  on  all  sides,  while 
at  another  it  has  been  left  almost  without  any.  These  I  shall  arrange 
in  the  order  of  the  date  of  the  respective  works. 

"  Solleysell,  1669,  pronounced  glanders  to  be  '  the  most  contagious 


SQ  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

distemper  to  which  horses  are  obnoxious;  for  not  only,'  says  he, 
'  does  it  communicate  its  venom  at  a  small  distance,  but  it  infects  the 
very  air,  and  seizes  on  all  horses  that  are  under  the  same  roof  with 
him  that  languishes  from  it.'  '  There  are,  (however)  several  kinds 
of  glanders,  some  of  which  are  not  so  extremely  infectious  as  others, 
though  there  are  none  that  ought  not  to  be  suspected.' 

"The  'causes  of  glanders'  Mr.  Smith  enumerates  to  be:  1,  Gen- 
eral debility;  2,  A  previous  disease;  3,  Breathing  an  impure  air;  4, 
Exposure  to  a  cuiTcnt  of  cold  air,  or  being  permitted  to  drink  cold 
water  when  hot ;  5,  A  sudden  transition  from  cold  to  heat,  and  vice 
versa/  6,  Infection.  The  first  three  of  these  Mr.  Smith  regards  as 
predisposing  causes  /  the  latter  three  being  exciting  causes.  '  Gen- 
eral debility  may  be  considered  the  forerunner  of  every  disease,  the 
system  being  thereby  rendered  more  susceptible  to  morbid  impres- 
sions.' '  Glanders  is  frequently  produced  by  a  variety  of  other 
diseases.'  '  I  have  seen  the  mucous  membrane  ulcerated,  the  bone 
carious,  and  all  the  characteristic  symptoms  of  glanders  produced 
by  a  cut  of  a  sabre.  I  have  also  seen  one  case  in  which  glanders 
was  produced  from  the  effects  of  a  severe  fall,  by  which  tlie  frontal 
sinuses  were  perforated  ;  in  another,  the  os  frontis  laid  entirely  bare, 
and  the  concussion  so  violent  as  to  excite  a  copious  discharge  of 
mucus  and  pus  from  the  nostrils  ;  and  in  another,  the  same  symp- 
toms produced  by  a  blow  on  the  superior  part  of  the  nasal  bones.' 

"  To  conclude  with  my  own  opinions  on  the  subject  of  contagion, 
they  are,  shortly,  these :  I  have  no  more  doubt  of  glanders  being  a 
contagious  disease,  than  I  have  of  syphilis,  or  small-pox,  or  itch  being 
contagious.  At  the  same  time,  from  the  known  fastidiousness  of 
contagion  in  regard  to  its  operation,  and  from  the  several  collateral 
circumstances  required  to  insure  its  effect  in  the  case  of  glanders  in 
the  horse,  in  the  generality  of  instances  the  chances  of  escaping  un- 
der its  influence,  greatly,  I  believe,  exceed  those  of  contamination. 
The  comparatively  few  examples  that  any  of  us  can  adduce  of  con- 
tagion, even  after  an  experience  of  many  years,  in  my  mind  seems 
to  warrant  this  inference  ;  at  the  same  time,  these  examples  are  fully 
sufficient,  both  to  establish  the  fact  and  warn  us  against  running  any 
risk  of  propagating  the  disease.  The  lamentable,  as  well  as  discred- 
itable difference  of  opinion  that  has  hitherto  existed  on  the  conta- 
giousness of  glanders,  seems  to  have  arisen  out  of  the  narrowness 
of  the  circuit  of  observation  whence  the  deductions  have  been  made. 
One  niMu's  practice  may  not  have  furnished  hiiuAvith  any  well-marked 
exam|)les  of  contagion,  another's  may  have  shown  him  several ;  the 
former  infers  that  glanders  is  a  disease  of  self-origin,  the  latter  that 
contagion  is  its  source  ;  both  too  precipitately  and  confidently  run- 
ning to  their  opposite  conclusions.  Let  us  hope,  however,  now  that 
our  sphere  of  observation  and  experience  is  becoming  so  much 
enlarged  by  the  contributions  of  fellow-laborers,  both  in  our  own  and 
in  foreign  countries,  that  we  shall  approximate  in  our  opinions  on 
this  vitally  important  question ;  and,  as  a  humble  step  toward  such 
desirable  agreement,  1  believe  the  conclusions  I  have,  after  a  good 
deal  of  deliberation  and  some  experience,  come  to  here,  will  not  be 
found  widely  diverse  from  the  opinions  entertained  by  the  majority 
of  veterinarians  whose  works  or  words  are,  at  the  time  I  am  writing, 
known  to  us." 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  87 

FARCY. 

Authorities  define  Farcy  to  be  a  disease  of  the  lymphatic  vessels, 
making  its  appearance  in  the  form  of  circular  swellings,  termedyarcy 
buds,  which  terminate  in  a  discharge  and  ulceration. 

Symptoms.  —  The  horse  usually  exkibits  some  symptoms  of  a 
deranged  condition  ;  sometimes,  however,  scarcely  noticeable,  at 
others  very  apparent.  The  horse  is  not  in  his  usual  spirits,  appears 
dull,  and  does  not  partake  of  food  with  his  accustomed  relish.  Some 
horses  will  have  feOrlle  symptoms,  pulse  quicker  than  natural,  mouth 
hot,  urine  high-colored,  &c. ;  others  are  suddenly  attacked  with  a 
swollen  leg.  Horses  often  become  suddenly  lame  in  one  of  the  hind 
extremities.  Mr.  Percival  remarks  :  "  I  have  known  horses  so  lame 
from  farcy,  before  the  disease  had  in  any  local  or  characteristic  form 
declared  itself,  tliat  shoes  have  been  removed,  and  feet  searched, 
&c.,  to  discover  the  cause  and  seat  of  lameness,  no  suspicion  having 
existed,  at  the  time,  that  farcy  was  present  in  the  animal's  system. 
It  may  so  happen,  however,  that  none  of  these  preliminary  symptoms 
are  observed  or  observable ;  that,  on  the  contrary,  farcy  at  once 
develops  in  an  attack  on  some  locality — most  probably  one  hind 
limb.  Indeed,  so  sudden,  sharp,  and  severe  are  attacks  of  farcy  in 
some  instances,  that  in  the  course  of  one  night  the  horse's  limb  will 
be  swollen  to  a  frightful  size,  so  as  to  incapacitate  him  almost  from 
turning  in  his  stall  and  walking  out  of  the  stable. 

"  Ordinarily  the  development  of  farcy  plainly  accounts  for  the 
halting  or  lameness ;  now  and  then,  howevei",  the  lameness  appears 
without  any  ostensible  cause. 

"  Viewing  the  affected  limb  from  behind,  we  perceive  a  fulness  on 
the  inside  of  the  thigh,  along  the  course  of  the  femoral  vein  ;  and 
the  application  of  our  finger  to  this  will  immediately  detect  a  corded, 
nodous  swelling,  which  has  been  happily  enough,  in  the  sensation  it 
conveys  to  our  feel,  compared  to  a  '  cord  with  so  tnavy  knots  tied  in 
it.''  This  is  at  once  declarative  of  a  disease  in  the  lymphatic  vessels 
of  the  presence  of  farcy. 

"  Tracing  the  cord  upward  from  its  place  of  origin,  which  com- 
monly is  above  the  hock,  the  hand  is  carried  into  the  groin,  and  there 
discovers  a  lobnlated  tumor,  a  swelling  of  the  inguinal  glands,  which 
may,  without  impropriety,  be  called  a  bubo  ;  sometimes,  however,  the 
bubo  does  not  make  its  appearance  until  after  the  full  development 
of  the  cord. 

"  Farcy  does  not  at  all  times  make  its  attack  in  this  open  and  un- 
ambiguous form ;  on  occasions  it  presents  itself  in  a  shape  so  insid- 
ious, that  at  first  we  hardly  suspect  it  to  be  farcy,  unless  there  happen 
to  be  present  circumstances  to  induce  suspicion  of  its  existence. 
Sometimes  one  of  tlie  limbs,  most  likely  the  hind,  will  swell  below 
instead  of  above  the  hock,  and  the  swelling  will  increase  around  the 
fetlock,  and  an  abscess  will  form  there.  In  other  cases,  blotches  or 
isolated  pustvdes  will  break  out  upon  the  limbs,  more  likely  upon  the 
inner  than  tlie  outer  side  of  them,  or  upon  the  body,  or  upon  the 
shoulders,  neck,  breast,  or  quarters  ;  and  these  will  break  and  dis- 
charge among  the  hair,  clothing  those  parts  with  an  ichorous  or 
dirty-looking,  thin  puriform  matter." 


88  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

These  are  the  general  symptoms  of  farcy ;  if  any  doubt,  however, 
exists  as  to  the  nature  of  the  disease,  it  will  in  a  few  days,  some- 
times in  a  few  hours,  be  dispelled  by  observing  coi'ded  lymphatics 
issuing  from  these  patches,  which  soon  become  running  sores. 

A  case  of  farcy  came  under  my  observation  a  short  time  ago. 
The  subject  had  for  some  time  been  suffering  under  constitutional 
derangement,  gradually  losing  his  appetite  and  flesh.  An  influenza 
was  now  prevailing  in  the  stable,  which  attacked  all  the  inmates. 
.The  one  alluded  to  had  a  fetid  discharge  from  the  nose,  differing 
from  that  of  the  other  horses  ;  and  soon  farcy  buds  made  their  ap- 
pearance, accompanied  by  swelling  of  the  legs.  The  fetid  breath, 
together  with  the  constitutional  symptoms,  would  seem  to  favor  the 
liypothesis  that  the  patient  was  a  subject  of  deep-seated  farcy,  and, 
probably,  had  been  such  for  a  length  of  time.  It  was  thought  advis- 
able to  destroy  this  animal.  The  others  all  recovered;  four  of  the 
number,  however,  having  swollen  legs,  were  permitted  to  run  a  few 
days  at  grass  before  they  could  be  put  to  work.  Veterinary  writers 
speak  of  several  forms  of  farcy  ;  but  these  are  only  varieties  of  the 
same  disease,  difl"ering  only  in  their  symptoms  and  duration,  assum- 
ing a  mild  or  malignant  form,  as  the  case  may  be,  in  exact  ratio  to 
the  general  health  of  the  subject. 

The  flrst  stage  of  farcy  is  tumefaction  of  the  lymphatics — "  devel- 
opment of  the  farcy  bud." 

The  second  stage  is  commonly  a  suppurative  one,  terminating  in 
a  farcy  ulcer.  After  passing  through  these  two  stages,  the  disease 
may,  and  frequently  does,  terminate  in  glanders.  Hence  the  prog- 
nosis of  farcy,  in  most  cases,  is  considered  unfavorable.  Yet,  when 
it  attacks  horses  in  good  condition,  some  hopes  may  be  entertained 
of  a  cure.  In  the  diagnosis  of  farcy,  we  are  not  apt  to  be  mistaken, 
provided  we  keep  in  mind  the  language  of  a  distinguished  veterin- 
ary writer,  who  says,  "No  swelling  of  a  hind  limb  (or  any  other 
part)  constitutes  a  case  of  farcy,  apart  from  the  unequivocal  signs 
of  lymphatic  disease.  There  must  be  present  corded,  nodulated 
swellings — buds  in  some  form  or  other — together  with  actual  or  ap- 
proaching tumefaction  of  the  lymphatic  glands,  or  the  case  is  not 
farcy." 

"  I  cannot  help  thinking,"  says  the  same  author,  "from  accounts 
I  have  perused  in  some  veterinary  works,  that  both  glanders  and 
farcy  have  been  mistaken  ;  or,  rather,  that  diseases  of  another  kind 
have  been  mistaken  for  them,  and  for  farcy  oftener  than  for  glan- 
ders. One  disease  in  particular,  and  one  that  is  by  no  means  so 
very  rare  in  its  occurrence,  I  feel  quite  certain  has  been  called  by 
the  name  of  farcy,  and  under  this  appellation  appears  to  have  been 
'cured,'  and  to  have  been  recorded  as  such.  The  disease  I  allude 
to  is  that  which  is  now  known  by  the  name  of  diffuse  inflammation 
of  the  cellular  membrane — a  disease  consisting  in  the  generally  sud- 
den appearance  of  lumps  or  patches  of  sub-cutaneous  effusion,  of  a 
solid  and  even  Arm  description,  attended  by  a3dematous,  swollen 
states  of  the  limbs,  belly,  sheath,  &c.,  and  thus  having,  so  far,  the 
character  of  vmter  farcy.*     But  in  these  cases,  let  it  be  well  ob- 

*  What  was  in  former  times  known  aa  water  farcy,  Is  now  understooU  as  superficial  dropsy — an 
elTusiou  into  tlie  ccUuiar  tissue. 


PECULIAR    TO    HORSES.  89 

served  that  there  is  no  lymphatic  disease,  nothing  like  farcy  buds 
and  cords ;  in  which  circumstance  it  is  (connected  with  the  course 
and  termination  these  respective  diseases  are  seen  to  have)  that  we 
are  to  seek  a  correct  diagnosis. 

"  But  how  are  we  to  distinguish  farcy  buds  from  some  cutaneous 
eruptions — from  surfeits,*  which  appear  so  much  like  them?  There 
is  but  one  species  of  farcy  for  whioh  these  eruptions  ean  be  mista- 
ken, and  that  is  the  diffuse,  or  broadcast  variety — the  button  farcy. 
Now,  should  the  attack  be  farcy,  the  probability  is,  from  its  being  a 
general  one,  that  the  animal  will  show  signs  of  ill  health  at  the  time, 
whereas  a  horse  that  has  '  broken  out  in  a  surfeit  all  over  his  body,' 
is  commonly  in  unusually  good,  what  is  termed  fine  condition. 
Then,  again,  surfeit  lumps  are  often  large  and  irregular  in  form,  and 
frequently  appear  in  patches ;  whereas  the  buds  of  button  farcy  are 
small,  and  regularly  spheroid  in  shape,  and  spread  pretty  uniformly 
over  the  body.  Again,  surfeit  eruptions  are  often  but  of  an  hour 
or  two  continuance.  Karely  are  they  visible  on  the  following  day. 
Any  doubt,  therefore,  that  may  impend  over  the  case,  is  not  likely 
to  be  of  lengthened  duration." 

The  causes  of  fxrcy  exist  in  any  thing  that  deranges  the  lym- 
phatic system ;  and  probably  the  same  causes  that  operate,  cither 
by  contagion,  or  otherwise,  to  produce  glanders,  will  produce 
farcy.  "By  innoculation,  farcy  has  been  produced  by  the  matter  of 
glanders,  and  glanders  by  the  matter  of  farcy  :  and,  consequently, 
there  is  every  reason  to  infer  a  similarity,  or  rather  an  identity  in 
the  viruses  of  the  two  diseases ;  and  in  further  proof  of  this,  as  we 
said  before,  one  disease,  or  form  of  disease,  almost  invariably  termi- 
nates in  the  other  prior  to  dissolution.  There  can  be  no  question 
but  that  the  sam^  contaminated  or  miasmatic  atmosphere  of  the 
stable,  or  elsewhere,  which  produces  glanders,  may  occasion  farcy, 
and  vice  versa.'''' 

Treatment  of  Farcy. — The  patient  should  be  placed  in  a  well 
ventilated  stable.  If,  however,  the  season  permits,  a  run  at  grass, 
in  the  day-time,  will  be  preferable.  Pure  air,  and  green  food  com- 
bined, are  almost  certain  to  produce  a  favorable  effect ;  for  pure  air 
decarbonizes  the  blood,  deprives  it  of  those  impurities  which  abound 
in  farcy  subjects,  and  at  the  same  time  distends  the  lungs  to  their 
normal  capacity ;  by  which  means  the  blood  is  circulated  with  more 
force  to  the  extreme  vessels.  The  green  food,  while  its  action  is 
alterative,  provides  for  the  laxity  of  the  bowels,  keeps  them  free 
and  unobstructed,  and  entirely  dispenses  with  cathartic  medicine ; 
the  latter  being  generally  considered  necessary  to  clear  out  the  bow- 
els; but  in  ray  opinion,  the  "brisk  dose  of  cathartic  medicine,"  so 
highly  extolled  by  some,  is  calculated  to  produce  unfavorable  results, 
especially  if  the  patient  shall  be  in  a  state  of  debility.  Any  man 
who  has  ever  been  foolish  enough  to  practice  the  common  error  of 
periodical  dosing  with  salts  and  senna,  castor  oil,  &c.,  can  testify  as 
to  their  prostrating  effects ;  but  this  is  only  an  item  in  the  catalogue 
of  evils  ;  great  pain,  griping,  loss  of  appetite,  subsequent  constipa- 
tion  and  dyspepsia,  are  the  consequences  of  cathartics  and  })urga- 

*  Sitrfeit.     A  disease  of  the  skin,  consistine  in  an  eruption  of  small  pustiUes.     It  appears  to  arise 
from  a  diseased  stale  of  the  stomach  and  boweU. —  White. 


90  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

tion.  Therefore,  if  the  fecal  accumulations  can  be  got  rid  of  under 
the  exhibition  of  so  safe  and  desirable  an  agent  as  grass,  it  is  cer- 
tainly to  be  preferred  to  the  tripe-scouring  compounds  of  the  day. 

The  grass  may  perhaps  act  as  a  cathartic,  especially  if  the  sub- 
ject has  been  accustomed  to  corn  and  oats.  If  this  should  be  the 
case,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  dry  food  should  be  allowed  to  supply 
the  waste  of  the  body,  and  promote  the  living  integrity;  for  with- 
out oil  the  light  will  go  out,  and  food  is  to  the  system  what  oil  is  to 
the  light.  Therefore,  in  such  case,  a  liberal  allowance  of  nutritious 
food  will  be  indicated. 

When  green  food  cannot  be  obtained,  a  sort  of  substitute  can  be 
compounded,  consisting  of  boiled  carrots,  beets  and  turnips,  thick- 
ened with  shorts,  or  fine  feed,  and  the  whole  pounded  up  together, 
to  which  a  tablespoonful  of  salt  may  be  added. 

As  regards  the  drink,  we  need  only  observe  that  pure  water,  in 
small  quantities,  is  perhaps  the  best ;  yet  if  the  patient  be  in  exceed- 
ingly poor  condition,  he  may  then  be  allowed  two  quarts  of  hay  tea, 
and  a  pint  of  fresh  cow's  milk  twice  a  day. 

Animals  suffering  from  either  glanders  or  farcy,  should  have  a  lib- 
eral supply  of  common  salt.*  A  quantity  should  be  placed  in  a 
situation  where  the  animal  can  help  himself;  in  addition  to  which 
the  food  should  be  salted. 

Medicines. — These  must  possess  the  following  properties  : 

1.  Antiseptic.  To  preserve  the  system  from  putrescence.  The 
principal  one  is  pyroligneous  acid;  dose,  one  ounce  twice  a  day,  iu 
a  pint  of  sage  tea. 

2.  Alterative.     To  change  morbid  action  ;  the   following  is  an  . 
example : 

Phosphate  of  Lime 1  ounce. 

Powdered  Sarsaparilla,  )    f        i,  *>       " 

"         Sassafras,       j  

"         AsafoBtida 1       " 

Mix,  and  divide  into  twenty-four  powders  ;  one  to  be  given,  night 
and  morning,  in  thin  gruel. 

3.  Utimulant.     To  arouse  vital  action  ;  the  chief  are  capsicum 

*  Saline  matterg  are  essential  constituents  of  the  blood,  of  the  organized  tispues,  and  of  the  secre- 
tions. They  are,  therefore,  necessary  components  of  our  food,  for  without  them,  liealth  and  vitality 
cannot  be  maintained. 

Tlie  alimentary  salts,  which,  on  account  of  their  occurring  more  frequently  and  l.irgrly  in  the  sys- 
tem, may  be  rcfjarded  of  the  most  importance,  in  a  dietetical  point  of  view,  are  common  salt,  and 
the  earthy  plinsphates.  Ferrughious  compounds  (salts?)  and  probably  salts  of  potash,  are  also  indis- 
pensable iiiiireilients  of  our  food. 

1.  Common  Salt  {Chloride  of  Sodium).  Though  salt  is  a  constituent  of  most  of  our  foods  and 
drinlcs,  we  ilo  not,  in  tliis  way,  obtain  a  sufficient  supi)lv  of  it  to  satisfy  the  wants  of  the  system  ;  and 
nature  has  accordingly  furnished  us  with  an  appetite  for  it.  The  salt,  therefore,  which  we  consume 
at  our  table  as  a  condiment,  in  reality  serves  dther  and  far  more  important  purposes  in  the  anim.Xl 
economy  than  that  of  merely  gratifying  the  palate.  It  is  a  necessary  article  of  food,  being  essential 
for  the  preservation  of  health,  and  the  raainteniini-e  of  life. 

It  forms  an  essential  constituent  of  blood,  which  fluid  doubtless  owes  many  of  its  important  quail- 
ties  to  it.  Thus  it  probably  contributes  to  keep  the  blood  corpuscles  unchanged  ;  for  when  these  are 
put  into  water,  a  powerful  and  rapid  endosmose  tal^es  place,  in  conse<|uence  of  wliich  they  swell  up 
and  assume  a  globular  form  ;  whereas  in  a  v^enk  solution  of  salt  they  remain  unchanged.  In  maliii- 
nant  cholera,  and  some  other  diseases  in  which  there  is  a  deficiency  in  the  saline  ingredients  of  the 
blood,  this  fluid  has  a  very  da rl;,  or  even  bbick  appearance;  whence  it  has  been  assumed  by  .some 
writers  that  the  red  color  of  the  blood  i<  dependtni  on  the  presence  of  its  saline  ingredients.  I'rom 
the  salt  of  the  blood,  aided  by  water,  the  gastric  juice  derives  its  hydrochloric  acid,  and  the  blood 
and  tne  bile  their  soda.  Ihe  soda  which  exis'sin  the  blood,  in  combination  with  alliumen,  passes  out 
of  the  system  in  uniop  with  organic  matter,  represented  by  chloric  acid.  In  other  words, 
bile  contains  the  elements  of  chlorate  of  snda,  though  not  necessarily  arranged  as  such.  Lastly 
"the  soda"  which  has  been  used  in  the  vital  processes,  and  any  excess  of  soda,  must  be  expelled  in 
the  form  of  salt,  after  being  soparalcd  fjora  the  blood  by  the  kidney. — Liehig. 


PECULIAK   TO   HOUSES.  91 

and  gingei*.     The  author  has  used  the  following  preparation  with 
considerable  success: 

Iodine  (reduced  to  powder) 4  scruples. 

Proof  Spirit 4  ounces. 

Tincture  of  Capsicum,  or  Ginger 6       " 

Dose,  one  ounce,  twice  a  day,  in  thin  gruel. 
Another : 

Hydriodate  of  Potass 20  grains. 

Dissolve  iu  a  pint  of  water ;  then  add  one  ounce  of  tincture  of 
ginger.     To  be  repeated  daily. 

Such  are  the  remedies  on  which  our  hopes  of  cure  are  to  be 
founded.  They  are  not  to  be  given  conjointly,  but  separately,  as  the 
various  stages  of  the  disease  indicate. 

Should  the  horse's  hind  limbs  be  enormously  swollen,  so  that  he 
cannot  move  about  without  inconvenience  and  pain,  then  the  follow- 
ing drench  must  be  administered  : 

Powdered  Socotrine  Aloes 4  drachms. 

Tincture  of  Gentian 4         " 

Sweet  Spirits  of  Nitre 3         " 

Syrup  of  Garlic 1  ounce. 

Flour  Gruel 1  pint. 

Mix. 

It  will  probably  not  be  necessary  to  repeat  this  dose.  In  fact,  we* 
should  not  recommend  the  aloes,  were  it  not  that  the  horse  is  now 
unable  to  seek  an  equivalent  in  the  pasture,  and  the  grave  nature  of 
the  case  calls  for  some  agent  capable  of  producing  a  change  in  the 
system,  diverting  the  fluid  (which  is  now  accumulating  in  the  cellu- 
lar tissues  of  the  limbs)  from  the  parts  to  the  central  membranes. 
Lest  we  may  not  be  understood  by  the  reader  (non-professional),  we 
remark,  that  aloes  act  as  a  mechanical  irritant  on  the  alimentary  sur- 
faces, and  a  copious  secretion  of  fluid  from  those  surfaces  always  fol- 
lows the  exhibition  of  drastic  medicine. 

The  swollen,  hot,  and  tense  state  of  the  limb  calls  for  some  local 
application.  We  therefore  first  wash  the  parts  with  a  weak  ley  of 
saleratus,  and  afterwards  apply  astringents,  composed  of  a  strong 
infusion  of  one  of  the  following  articles:  Bayberry,  white  oak,  nut- 
galls,  gum  catechu.  Bandages  moistened  with  equal  parts  of  vine- 
gar and  Avater,  form  a  good  evaporating,  cooling  lotion,  when  pain 
and  inflammation  are  evident.  Yet,  after  all,  voluntary  exercise, 
such  as  the  animal  will  take  while  procuring  food  in  the  pasture, 
will  generally  have  a  better  effect  on  a  tumefied  limb  than  all  the 
local  applications  we  can  make. 

The  local  treatment  of  farcy  buds  is  a  matter  of  importance;  for 
the  discharge  from  them  is  sometimes  so  corrosive,  irritating,  that  it 
destroys  the  surrounding  skin  and  sub-cellular  parts.  White,  .and 
some  other  writers,  recommend  the  most  destructive  poisons  as  topi- 
cal applications,  such  as  corrosive  sublimate,  muriatic  acid,  lunar 
caustic,  red  precipitate — in  efi'ect,  no  doubt,  setting  up  a  worse  dis- 
ease than  the  one  already  present.  In  such  articles  we  have  no 
faith.  On  the  contrary,  we  consider  them  first-rate  poisons,  capable 
of  altering,  and,  in  a  great  majority  of  cases,   destroying  one  or 


92  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

more  of  the  functions  necessary  to  the  support  of  life.     The  follow- 
ing will  form  the  best  local  application  we  know  of: 

Pyroligneous  Acid 1  pint. 

Tincture  of  Blood-root 1  gill. 

Linseed  Oil ^     " 

Mix,  and  wet  the  farcy  buds  with  it  morning  and  evening. 


SPLENT— ITS  NATURE,  CAUSE  AND  TREATMENT. 

The  term  Splent,  or  splint^  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  is  derived 
from  the  Italian  word  spinella,  a  splint — a  name  properly  belonging 
to  those  small  bones,  at  the  posterior  parts  of  the  cannons,  known,  in 
the  fore,  as  small  metacarpal,  and  on  the  hiyid  extremities  Si^metatar- 
sal ;  they  being  considered  by  some  persons,  as  splinters  of  the  main 
or  cannon  bones.  The  name  of  the  bone  is,  therefore,  erroneously 
transferred  to  the  disease,  the  proper  name  of  which  should  be  ex- 
ostosis, (a  morbid  enlargement  or  tumor  of  bone.)  The  splent  bones 
answer  a  useful jyurpose  m  the  animal  economy/ — they  are  designed 
to  receive  a  portion  of  the  weight  of  the  body,  and  aid  the  cartil- 
ages of  the  knee  in  guarding  against  concussion.  They  are  united  to 
the  cannon  by  a  fibrous  cartilage,  which  admits  of  slight  motion, 
upwards  and  downwards ;  in  the  disease  called  S2:)lent,  the  articulat- 
ing cartilages  become  ossified,  (changed  into  bone,)  the  function  of 
the  part  is  destroyed,  and  all  motion,  or  elasticity,  ceases.  As  no 
hopes  can  ever  be  entertained  of  changing  bone  into  soft  tissue,  we 
may,  without  fear  of  contradiction,  assert  that  Splent  is  incurable. 

Cause  of  Splent. — Overworking  a  horse,  or  hard  galloping,  by 
which  any  undue  or  sudden  pressure  is  brought  to  bear  on  the  splent 
bones,  whereby  the  fibrous  cartilage  is  stretched,  strained,  or  lacerat- 
ed, so  as  to  produce  inflammatory  action,  and  subsequent  osseous 
efiusion,  may  be  regarded  as  exciting  causes.  Trotting  young  colts 
by  the  side  of  their  mothers,  and  imposing  on  them  heavy  burthens 
at  too  tender  an  age,  are  practices,  considered  operative  in  produc- 
ing this  mischief  Mr.  Percival,  the  best  authority  on  this  subject, 
writes:  "Over- work,  over-action,  at  a  tender  age,  is  the  ordinary 
cause  of  Splent.  In  the  anxiety  there  is  to  bring  young  horses  into 
use,  in  the  precocious  practice  of  breaking,  &c.,  we  cannot  feel  sur- 
prised at  unperfected  parts  giving  way,  or  being  reconstructed  in  a 
different  manner  from  the  original  design.  Nature  is  forced  beyond 
her  powers,  and  finding  that  the  soft  and  elastic  material,  placed  for 
a  certain  wise  purpose  between  the  splent  and  cannon  bones,  insuf- 
ficient against  weight  and  force,  osseous  material  is  substituted  lor 
it.  Even  before  breaking  or  using  the  colt  commences,  the  mis- 
chief may  be  perpetrated.  A  gallop,  jump,  or  gambol,  in  the  field, 
or  yard,  may  occasion  a  Splent.  Again,  a  blow,  or  other  external 
injury,  may  produce  a  Splent,  though  this  is  comparatively  a  rare  case. 
To  whatever  cause,  however,  it  be  referable,  the  fact  is  notorious 
enough,  that  hardly  any  horse  completes  his  fifth  year  without  Splent, 
latent  or  demonstrable." 

So  far  as  regards  American  horses,  the  disease  is  far  from  being  uni- 


PECULIAE   TO    HORSES.        ^  93 

versal,  and  this  may  be  owing  to  the  diiforencc  in  our  roads,  which, 
contemplated  as  a  whole,  are  more  easy  for  travel,  than  those  of  Eng- 
land. Still  we  have  enough  cases  of  this  disease  among  American 
horses,  to  excite  our  attention. 

Does  Splent  constitute  unsound^iess  ?  I  tliink  not ;  because  it  is 
seldom  associated  with  perceptible  lameness,  and  so  long  as  the 
horse  can  perform  the  duties  of  an  ordinary  horse,  he  is  sound  to  all 
intents  and  purposes.  I  never  knew  lameness  to  arise  from  this  dis- 
ease. Should  Splent,  however,  extend  in  an  upward  direction,  and 
involve  the  knee  bones,  it  must  then  occasion  lameness. 

The  author  just  quoted  sustains  this  opinion.  He  remarks: 
"There  is  an  old  notion  very  prevalent  among  unprofessional 
people,  that  splent  often  lames  horses;  and  to  the  groom  who  thinks 
80,  or  to  the  veterinary  surgeon,  who  previils  upon  himself  to  believe 
so,  such  a  doctrine  is  often  very  acceptable  and  opportune,  inasmuch 
as  it  serves  to  help  him  out  of  any  embarrassment  he  may  feel,  to 
say  for  certain,  where  the  horses'  lameness  is  located.  Young  prac- 
titioners ought  to  be  extremely  wary  how  they  pronounce  a  horse 
lame  from  Splent.  They  must  never  venture  to  do  so,  without  un- 
questionable evidence  that  such  is  really  the  case. 

Teeatment  of  Splent. — When  the  Splent  first  makes  its  appear- 
ance, our  object  should  be  to  lessen  inflammatory  action,  and  thus 
limit  its  development.  Supposing  it  to  arise  from  strain  or  overwork, 
rest,  cold  water,  refrigerating  lotions,  and  bandage,  are  the  most 
rational  means.  Should  it  really  occasion  lameness,  no  bettercourse 
can  be  pursued  ;  therefore,  we  are  justified  in  resorting  to  it. 

If  the  tumor  becomes  very  large,  so  as  to  be,  not  only  an  eye-sore, 
but  also  interfere  with  the  action  of  the  limb,  an  operation  must 
be  resorted  to,  which  can  only  be  performed  by  a  medical  man.  But 
the  reader  must  bear  in  mind  that  Splent  cannot  be  cured ;  yet  the 
horse  may  be  relieved  of  the  lameness. 


SPAVIN  — ITS  NATURE,  CAUSE,  SYMPTOMS  AND 
TREATMENT. 

There  is  a  sort  of  irregular,  or  incomplete  spavin,  which  may  exist 
■without  accompanying  lameness.  It  is  found  just  beneath  the  bones 
composing  the  hock,  in  the  form  of  a  knotty  tumor,  technically  called 
exostosis  ;  in  common  language,  a  '■'■jach.''''  In  such  case  the  mech- 
anism of  the  joint  is  not  involved,  hence,  absence  of  lameness.  Biit 
the  animal  may  from  overwork,  or  sprain,  become  lame  in  a  joint  re- 
mote from  this;  the  owner  or  attendant  not  possessing  the  requisite 
skill  to  discover  the  precise  seat,  finds  a  tumor  at  the  point  indicated, 
and  immediately  pronounces  the  horse  spavined,  and  this  serves  as 
an  excuse  for  adding  to  the  poor  brute's  sufferings  the  torture  of  fire ; 
during  the  rest  which  necessarily  follows  the  application  of  the  same, 
the  original  lameness  disappears,  and  this  furnishes  an  illustration  of 
one  of  the  boasted  cures  of  spavin,  which  disease  in  reality  never 
existed. 

Nature  of  Spayin. — In  order  to  comprehend  this,  the  reader 


94:  TEEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

should  know,  that  the  joints  of  the  hock  are  composed  of  several 
bones,  two  of  which  form  the  joint  proper,  the  remainder,  eight  in 
number,  are  concerned  in  the  articulation  and  composition  of  the 
same.  Between  each  bone  is  inserted  a  cartilaginous  cushion  for  the 
purpose  of  warding  off  concussion,  and  thus  preventing  injury  to  the 
bones,  which  would  otherwise  occur.  These  bones  have  all  their 
proper  capsular  membranes,  which  separate  one  from  the  other,  mak- 
ing them  distinctive  points.  A  synovial  membrane  pervading  the 
whole,  furnishes  synoy/a,  {'■^ joint  oiV)  which  successfully  guards 
against  friction. 

Spavin  generally  originates  in  inflammation  of  the  periosteal  tis- 
sues, (membranes  proper  to  all  bones — their  external  covering,)  or 
else,  in  the  ligamentary,  or  cartilaginous  structures,  contiguous,  or 
within  the  joints.  A  high  grade  of  inflammatory  action,  pervading 
for  some  time,  causes  absorption  of  the  cartilages  between  the  small 
bones,  they  become  consolidated  and  immovable.  This  cartilage 
behig  changed  into  bone,  cannot  possibly  be  restored,  and  is  there- 
fore incurable. 

Spavin  having,  in  this  manner,  zninternal  origin,  is  not  percepti- 
ble ;  consequently,  some  persons  are  unwilling  to  admit  its  existence 
until  they  can  both  see  and  feel  it.  If  it  shall  commence  externally^ 
(on  the  inside  of  the  hock)  in  the  form  of  encrustation,  termed  exoS' 
tosis,  which  is  very  often  the  case,  all  doubt  is  at  an  end.  In  plain  lan- 
guage, spavin  consists  in  a  loss  of  motion,  between  parts  that  were 
once  movable,  and  may  exist  with  or  without  bony  tumor. 

If  a  student  were  asked  the  question,  What  constitutes  a  spavin  ? 
he  would  answer,  '■'■Anchylosis  and  exostosis  of  the  tarsal  (hock) 
bones."  Ask  him  if  it  can  be  cured,  and  he  utters  a  decided  "No." 
He  only  mitigates  the  lameness. 

The  malady  is  similar  to  that  occurring  among  children,  known  as 
hip  disease,  when  the  head  of  the  thigh  bone  unites  to  the  pelvis  ; 
and  no  one  pretends,  at  least  never  succeeds,  in  effecting  a  radical 
cure.  But,  as  regards  the  horse,  the  disease  is  more  complicated, 
because  a  greater  number  of  bones  are  involved ;  yet  in  effect,  the 
disease  is  less  serious,  because  it  does  not  prevent  flexion  and  exten- 
sion of  the  joint  proper. 

In  a  very  brief  manner  I  have  now  considered  the  pathology  or 
nature  of  spavin,  much  interesting  matter  (and  really  valuable  to 
students)  is  necessarily  omitted,  in  order  to  render  the  article  brief 
as  possible. 

Cause  of  Spavin. — Its  pathology  demonstrates  inflammation  of 
one  or  more  tissues  proper  to  the  point,  which  is  produced  by  over- 
work, sprain  or  concussion  ;  the  tumor  and  transformation  of  the  car- 
tilages into  bony  substances,  always  being  preceded  by  lameness, 
indicates  injuries  of  this  character,  yet  they  are  not  in  all  cases  op- 
erative ;  for  some  of  our  truck  horses,  especially  those  used  in  shafts, 
are  often  compelled  to  perform  extraordinary  feats  of  strength,  that 
would  in  ordinary  horses  induce  ligamentary  lameness,  ultimately 
resulting  in  spavin,  yet  they  are  remarkably  free  from  it ;  the  reason 
is,  they  are  free  from  predisposition. 

It  is  a  fact,  well  known  to  the  profession,  that  many  spavined 
horses  labor  under  either  local  or  constitutional  predisposition. 


PECULIAK   TO   HORSES.  95 

Local  preduposition  is  determined  by  a  short-pointed  hock, 
lengthy  cannon^  and  iipriglit  pasterns.  This  is  the  kind  of  liock 
that  is  most  subject  to  strain,  in  backing  heavy  loads,  and  concussion^ 
while  galloping,  or  trotting  fast  on  hard  pavements. 

Constitutional  predisx>osition  exists  in  breed,  and  is  inherited 
from  sire  or  dam.  A  spavined  mare  transmits  the  disease,  of  which 
we  have  evidence  in  colts  that  have  never  been  brol^ie.  But  in  the 
majority  of  cases,  spavins  are  indirectly  transmitted  in  the  form  of 
a  weak,  fragile,  bony  structure,  which  i'^  prone  to  throw  out  osseous 
(bony)  eflfusion.  Such  animals  are  often  termed  overgrown,  from 
the  fact  that  their  frames  have  outgrown  their  strength  ;  consequent- 
ly, they  are  unable  to  bsar  heavy  burthens,  without  strain  or  injury 
to  the  joints.  The  bones  of  horses  predisposed  to  ossific  effusion,  in 
the  form  of  spavin,  splint  and  ringbone,  are  remarkably  light,  i)orous 
and  brittle;  and  on  inspecting  the  same,  we  wonder  how  they  have 
supported  even  the  carcass  of  the  animal. 

The  reader  has  probably  noticed  in  cattle  large  bony  tumors  under 
the  jaw,  called  osteosarcoma,  which  finally  end  in  caries,  (death  of 
the  bone,)  and  others,  located  on  tlie  hock  and  on  various  parts  of  the 
shaft  bones  ;  these  appearing  without  any  apparent  cause,  illustrate 
what  I  mean  by  ossific  diathesis,  or  constitutional  predisposition. 

We  may  safely  conclude,  therefore,  that  spavin  originates  from 
predisposing  and  exciting  causes,  acting  conjointly,  or  otherwise. 

Symptoms  of  Spavin. — These  vary  according  to  the  nature  and 
intensity  of  the  attack;  yet  there  are  some,  always  present,  so  that 
a  man  of  ordinary  observation  can  readily  discover  the  seat  of  the 
lameness. 

The  First  is,  heat  and  tenderness  on  the  inside  of  the  hock. 
Secojidly.     Inability  to  flex  the  hock  with  perfect  freedom,  the  act 
being  accompanied    with  a  sort  of  "  catching  up,''''   or  sprhig-halt 
motion.     /Spring-halt  is  a  remarkable  feature  of  spavin,  and  it  has 
been   noticed  by   several  writers,  Shakspeare,  for  example,  thus . 
refers  to  it : 

"  One  would  take  it, 
That  never  saw  them  pace  before,  the  xpavin 
And  spring-halt  reigriv-d  among  'em." 

Thirdly.  The  animal  starts  stiff  and  lame,  '■^planting''''  his  toe  on 
the  ground,  rather  than  the  heels ;  he  improves,  however,  after  a 
short  drive. 

Fourthly.  The  above  symptoms  connected  with  a  tumor  on  the 
inside  of  a  hock,  in  the  region  of  the  small  tarsal  bones,  exclude 
all  doubt.  Yet  the  tumor,  as  I  have  just  observed,  is  not  necessary 
to  make  out  a  case  of  what  is  technically  called  inter-articular 
spavin. 

Treatiment  op  Spavin. — iVb  man  can  possibly  succeed  in  curing 
spavin.  We  may  palliate — relieve  lameness — and  hasten  a?^c/^y^'9s^5, 
(stiff  joint,)  and  render  the  subject  useful  for  certain  purposes,  l)ut 
there  will  always  exist  a  certain  amount  of  stiffness  about  the  joint, 
which  is  considered  unsoundness,  and  a  hard  trot  will  often  induce 
temporary  lameness. 

In  the  treatment  of  spavin,  we  borrow  an  illustration  from  Nature 
— the  best  and  wisest  of  doctors — she  strengthens  a  weak  joint,  by 


96  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

making  it  solid  and  unyielding,  and  this  must  be  our  object  in  its 
treatment. 

Medical  men  always  have  this  object  in  view,  viz.,  to  produce 
anchylosis,  to  hasten  ossific  effusion,  and  render  the  sensitive  tissues 
inseiisibU. 

In  the  early  or  inflammatory  stage,  rest,  and  cooling  lotions  are 
indicated.  In  the  latter  stage,  counter  irritants,  such  as  prepara- 
tions of  cantharides,  &c.,  are  generally  resorted  to. 

The  reader,  if  he  be  in  any  way  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
"livestock,"  will  probably  appreciate  the  value  of  correct!  informa- 
tion regarding  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  disease.  For  in  the  first 
place,  it  aims  a  death  blow  at  ignorance,  quackery,  and  cruelty, 
practiced  very  frequently  under  the  guise  of  science ;  between 
which,  however,  there  exists  less  affinity  than  between  oil  and 
water. 

In  the  next  place,  it  enables  him  to  adopt  preventives,  by  which  the 
chances  of  disease  are  lessened. 

It  teaches  him  that  physical  defects  are  as  certainly  transmitted 
as  good  points,  and  although  bad  qualities  are  not  always  directly 
transmitted,  yet  the  day  of  reckoning  appears  in  a  future  generation, 
just  as  surely  as  like  begets  like. 

The  most  popular  remedy,  now  in  use,  for  the  treatment  of  Spavin, 
is  the  acetate  of  cantharides.  The  American  Magnetic  Liniment, 
manufactured  by  Messrs.  Lord  &  Smith,  of  this  city,  is  also  a  very 
excellent  remedy  for  the  treatment  of  both  Splent  and  Spavin. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  KIDNEYS. 

Symptoms. — The  animal  is  feverish,  his  pulse  is  quick ;  he  strains 
when  urinating,  has  a  straddling  gait,  and  the  urine  is  high  colored, 
sometimes  tinged  with  blood;  when  slight  pressure  is  made  over  the 
region  of  the  kidneys,  the  animal  manifests  symptoms  of  pain. 

Treatment. — Feed  the  patient  lightly,  and  give  him  one  wine- 
glass full  of  fluid  extract  of  buchu,  night  and  morning. 


HEMATURIA,  OR  BLOODY  URINE. 

This  disease  proceeds  from  a  disease  located  in  the  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  kidneys  and  urinary  passage.  Occasionally  the  dis- 
ease results  from  plethora,  but  is  often  brought  on  by  the  action  of 
diuretics. 

Treatment. — Give  the  patient  twice,  daily,  a  wine-glass  of  fluid 
extract  of  buchu,  in  a  pint  of  infusion  of  slippery  elm. 


TECULIAK   TO   HORSES.  91 

SUPPRESSION  OF  URINE. 

Suppression  of  the  urine  is  often  the  result  of  spasm  of  the  urethra, 
and  usually  disappears  soon  after  the  exhibition  of  the  following : 

Sweet  Spirits  of  Nitre 1-^  ounces. 

Powdered  Gum  Asafoetida 2  drachms. 

Syrup 2  ounces. 

Mix ;  and  drench  the  patient  with  the  same.  The  dose  may  be 
repeated  at  the  expiration  of  one  hour,  if  necessary. 

In  cases  of  flatulent  and  spasmodic  colic,  the  animal  is  often  una- 
ble to  urinate.  In  this  event,  the  catlieter  should  be  introduced,  and 
the  urine  drawn  off. 

Enemas  of  warm  water  thrown  into  the  rectum,  often  tend  to 
relax  spasm,  and  favor  the  evacuation  of  the  accumulated  urine. 


DIABETES,  OR  PROFUSE  DISCHARGE  OF  URINE. 

In  this  affection  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  horse  passes  a  va  8 
quantity  of  urine,  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  water 
drank ;  the  stall  floor  is  continually  wet,  and  the  animal  is  usually 
very  thirsty.  The  cause  of  this  disease,  in  the  horse,  is  rather 
obscure. 

Treatment. — Give  the  patient  one  wine-glassfull  of  fluid  extract 
of  buchu,  and  to  each  dose  add  ten  grains  of  iodide  of  potass. 
Some  change  in  diet  will  be  necessary,  and  it  should  be  of  the  very 
best  quality,  I  sometimes  use  fluid  extract  of  styllingia  instead  of 
buchu. 

I  find  that  carrots  have  a  very  good  effect  on  animals  suffering 
fi'om  diabetes. 


ALBUMINOUS  URINE. 

In  a  disease  of  this  character  the  urine  is  loaded  with  albumen,  is 
thick  and  clear,  and  if  a  portion  of  it  be  submitted  to  the  action  of 
heat,  it  coagulates  like  the  white  of  an  egg. 

Treatment. — Prepare  the  following : 

Fluid  Extract  of  Buchu 8  ounces. 

Chlorate  of  Potass 1       " 

Tincture  of  Sassafras  Bark 4       " 

Mix.    Dose :  one  ounce  night  and  morning. 


THICK  AND  TURBID  URINE. 

It  is  often  noticed  that  horses  pass  urine  of  a  thick  and  turbid 
character.     This  is  occasioned  by  a  morbid  condition  of  the  body, 
and  is  sometimes  an  effort  on  the  part  of  nature  to  rid  the  system  of 
raorbr  jc  material. 


98  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

The  discharge  of  morbid  urine  generally  tends  to  the  restoration 
of  health,  and  the  treatment  necessary  is,  to  give  the  patient  some 
medicine  of  an  alterative  and  tonic  character.  The  following  is  an 
example : 

Powdered  Golden  Seal 4  ounces. 

Iodide  of  Potass 2       " 

Powdered  Poplar  Bark 6       " 

Mix,  Divide  into  twelve  parts,  and  give  one  every  night  in  the 
food,  or  in  a  bran  mash. 

If  the  above  medicine  cannot  be  obtained,  the  American  Magnetic 
Horse  Powders  may  be  substituted.     (See  last  page). 


NAVICULAR  DISEASE. 

Navicular  disease  consists  of  deep-seated  injury  within  the  hoof, 
often  involving  the  navicular  or  shuttle  bone.  The  injury  may  arise 
from  sprain,  contraction  of  posterior  walls  of  the  hoof,  from  puncture 
of  the  sole,  from  an  ulcerated  state  of  the  bone,  and  may  be  the 
sequel  of  laminitis. 

The  principal  symptoms  of  navicular  disease  are,  acute  lameness; 
the  foot  is  pointed  forward  when  the  animal  is  at  rest;  and  when 
traveling  he  takes  short  steps,  and  is  unsteady  in  his  gait. 

Treatment. — Should  the  hoof  be  contracted,  the  quarters  are  to 
be  rasped  quite  thin,  so  as  to  remove  the  pressure  from  the  sensitive 
parts.  The  following  preparation  is  then  to  be  applied  to  the  heel* 
until  they  are  well  blistered : 

Powdered  Spanish  Flies 4  drachms. 

Raw  Linseed  Oil 6  ounces. 

Mix.  Apply  by  means  of  a  sponge,  and  keep  the  hoof  lubricated 
with  neatsfoot  oil. 

It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  blister  is  not  to  be 
applied  to  the  heel  until  the  inflammatory  process  has  subsided ; 
while  there  is  perceptible  heat  and  fever  in  the  foot  it  must  be  bathed 
often  with  cold  water. 

A  horse  lame  from  navicular  disease  must  be  excused  from  duty, 
and  it  may  take  many  months  to  restore  the  animal  to  usefulness. 


TO  PROTECT  ANIMALS  AGAINST  THE  TORTURE  OF 
FLIES  AND  INSECTS. 

"Walnut  Leaves 4  ounces. 

Lobelia  Leaves 4       " 

Boiling  Water 1  gallon. 

Let  the  mixture  stand  until  cool ;  then  express  the  fluid  through 
cotton  cloth,  and  add  four  ounces  of  the  tincture  of  aloes. 

Directions.     Apply  a  small  quantity  of  this  compound,  daily,  to 
the  surface  of  the  body,  by  means  of  a  sponge. 


PECULIAK   TO   nOKSES.  99 

ANTIDOTE  FOR  THE  BITE  OR  STING  OF  VENOMOUS 

REPTILES. 

Plantain  Leaves  {plantago  major) 4  ounces. 

Lobelia  Leaves 2       " 

Boiling  Water 1  quart. 

Directions.  When  the  mixture  becomes  cool,  bind  a  quantity  of 
the  herb  on  the  affected  part,  and  give  the  animal,  as  a  drench,  four 
or  five  ounces  of  the  remaining  fluid,  every  four  hours. 


THE  ENDURANCE  OF  HORSES. 

Some  curious  experiments  have  been  made  at  the  Veterinary 
School  at  Alfort,  by  order  of  the  Minister  of  War,  to  ascertain  the 
endurance  of  horses — as  in  a  beseiged  town,  for  example.  It  appears 
that  a  horse  will  live  on  water  alone  twenty-five  days  ;  seventeen 
days  without  eating  or  drinking;  only  five  days,  if  fed  but  unwa- 
tered;  ten  days  if  fed  but  insufficiently  watered.  A  horse  kept 
without  water  for  three  days,  drank  104  pounds  of  water  in  three 
minutes.  It  was  found,  too,  that  a  horse  taken  after  being  fed  and 
kept  in  the  active  exercise  of  the  "  squadron  school,"  completely 
digested  its  "  feed"  in  three  hours ;  in  the  same  time  at  the  "  con- 
script's school,"  its  food  was  two-thirds  digested ;  and  if  kept  per- 
fectly quiet  in  a  stable,  digestion  was  scarcely  commenced  in  three 
hours. 


SPRAIN  OF  THE  FETLOCK. 

This  is  a  very  formidable  lameness,  and  also  a  very  painful  one,       • 
and  when  a  horse  becomes  the  subject  of  it  he  should  be  immedi- 
ately excused  from  duty,  for  every  movement  of  the  parts  only  ag- 
gravates the  difficulty.     I  have  found  the  following  liniment  to  be  of 
great  value  in  the  treatment  of  all  recent  sprains  : 

Olive  Oil 1  pint. 

Gum  Camphor 2  ounces. 

Laudanum 1       " 

Sulphuric  ^ther 4       " 

Dissolve  the  camphor  in  the  aether,  then  add  the  oil,  and  lastly  the 
laudanum. 

In  some  cases  of  severe  sprain  of  the  pastern,  or  fetlock,  I  have 
known  cold  water  bandages  to  have  a  very  marked  effect  in  moder- 
ating the  pain  and  inflammation  of  the  parts. 


TO  RELIEVE  MUSCULAR  PAIN  IN  HORSES. 

The  datura  stramonium,  or  thorn  apple  plant,  is  a  very  excellent 
remedy,  as  an  external  application,  for  the  treatment  of  muscular 


100  TREATMENT '  OF  '  DISEASES 

])ain,  ligamentary  lameness,  sprain  of  the  fetlock,  &c.  It  is  a  rem- 
edy of  great  efficacy  in  chronic  pains  and  inflammatory  tumors. 
Four  ounces  of  the  plant  to  one  pint  of  boiling  water,  are  the  pro- 
portions. When  cool,  the  parts  are  to  be  bathed  often ;  when  prac- 
ticable, a  flannel  is  to  be  saturated  with  the  fluid  and  bound  ou  the 
affected  parts;  the  whole  to  be  covered  with  oiled  silk. 


HORSES  SHOULD  BE  EXERCISED  DAILY. 

Horses  require  daily  exercise  in  the  open  air,  and  can  no  more  be 
expected  to  exist  without  it  than  their  owners.  Exercise  is  an  essen- 
tial feature  in  stable  management,  and,  like  well-opportuned  food, 
tends  alike  to  preserve  the  health  of  horses. 

Daily  exercise  is  necessary  for  all  horses,  unless  they  are  sick  ;  it 
assists  and  promotes  a  free  circulation  of  the  blood,  determines  mor- 
bific matter  to  the  surface,  develops  the  muscular  structure,  creates 
an  appetite,  improves  the  wind,  and  finally  invigorates  the  whole 
system.  We  cannot  expect  much  of  a  horse  that  has  not  been  habit- 
uated to  sufficient  daily  exercise  ;  while  such  as  have  been  daily 
exercised,  and  well  managed,  are  capable  not  only  of  great  exertion 
and  fatigue,  but  are  ready  and  willing  to  do  our  bidding  at  any  sea- 
son. When  an  animal  is  over-worked,  it  renders  the  system  very 
susceptible  to  whatever  morbid  influences  may  be  present,  and  im- 
parts to  the  disease  they  may  labor  under,  an  unusual  degree  of 
severity.  The  exhaustion  produced  by  want  of  rest  is  equally  dan- 
gerous ;  such  horses  are  always  among  the  first  victims  of  disease, 
and  when  attacked  their  treatment  is  embarrassing  and  unsatisfactory. 


VALUE  OF  CARROTS. 

Carrots  are  very  excellent  ^^  fodder'''  for  horses  that  have  been  long 
kept  on  highly  carbonaceous  food,  and  whose  digestive  organs  may 
be  out  of  order  in  consequence  of  their  constant  activity  in  reducing 
meal  and  oats  into  the  elements  of  animal  nutrition.  With  a  fair 
allowance  of  carrots,  ground  oats,  and  sweet  hay,  a  horse  will  enjoy 
good  health  and  spirits,  have  a  loose  hide,  shining  coat,  and  healthy 
lungs.  A  daily  allowance  of  carrots  should  always  be  furnished 
to  horses,  the  subjects  of  indigestion ;  whose  food  often  runs 
into  fermentation,  inducing  diarrhoea,  or  a  lax,  washy  state  of  the 
bowels.  Carrots  furnish  an  acid  called  pectic,  which  possesses  the 
curious  property  of  gelatinizing  the  watery  contents  of  the  digestive 
cavities.  A  few  drops  of  this  pectic  acid  will  gelatinize  both,  and 
when  mixed  with  the  juice  of  an  orange,  changes  the  same  into  jelly. 
So  that  if  the  alvine  discharges  of  a  horse  are  watery,  carrots  can 
be  used  as  a  valuable  therapeutic  agent,  both  in  view  of  arresting 
the  same  and  restoring  the  tone  of  the  stomach  and  bowels.  By  ex- 
amining the  excrement  of  a  horse,  fed  in  part  on  carrots,  it  will  be 
found  to  contain  no  undigested  hay  nor  oats,  and  therefore  we  may 
safely  infer  that  they  promote  digestion,  so  that  by  the  constant  use 
of  carrots,  less  quantities  of  hay  and  oats  will  suffice  than  when  a 


PECULIAR    TO    HORSES.  101 

larger  amount  is  consumed,  and  parted  with,  in  an  undigested  state. 
For  fattening  animals,  carrots  are  exceedingly  valuable.  It  will  bo 
urged  that  carrots  are  not  very  nutritious — that  may  be  ;  still,  if 
they  possess  tlie  property  of  gelatinizing  the  contents  of  the  stomach 
and  bowels,  they  aid  in  the  manufacture  of  fat  out  of  other  food, 
which  might  otherwise  pass  out  of  the  system. 

It  is  said  that  the  milk  of  a  cow  in  mid-winter,  fed  on  carrots,  is 
equal  in  flavor  to  that  supplied  from  clover  in  summer,  while  the 
butter  made  from  such  milk  presents  a  rich  orange  color,  and  does 
not  taste,  as  some  persons  suppose,  of  the  peculiar  flavor  of  this  veg- 
etable. Two  bushels  of  oats  and  one  of  carrots  is  better  food  for  a 
horse  than  three  bushels  of  oats  without  carrots,  and  when  the  ani- 
mal is  used  for  light  work  only,  the  quantity  of  carrots  may  be 
increased. 

The  reader  must  bear  in  mind,  however,  that  animals,  like  our- 
selves, have  their  peculiar  idiosyncracies  or  susceptibilities — "what 
is  one  man's  food  is  another's  poison" — and  some  might  digest,  and 
thrive  amazingly,  on  a  given  article  of  food,  while  an  equal  number 
shall  lose  both  flesh  and  spirits.  There  appears,  however,  to  be 
less  objection  to  the  judicious  use  of  carrots  than  many  other  veg- 
etables, both  as  regards  horses  and  cattle. 

If  the  reader  happen  to  have  what  is  termed  a  "s^a7^fed  horse, 
and  the  same  shall  be  the  subject  of  heaves,''''  (sometimes  a  symptom 
of  indigestion,  only),  let  them  take  away  the  fine  meal  and  substitute 
carrots,  and,  ray  word  for  it,  the  horse  will  improve. 


ON  THE  STRUCTURE  AND   FUNCTION  OF  THE  LIVER 
OF  THE  HORSE  — ITS  DISEASES,  &c. 

The  liver  of  the  horse  is  situated  between  the  stomach  and  dia- 
phragm, in  what  is  known  to  anatomists  as  the  epigastric  and  hypo- 
chondriac regions;  it  is  confined  in  this  situation  by  means  of  what 
are  termed  its  ligaments,  which  are  chronicled  as  five  in  number. 
Anatomically  divided,  the  liver  is  convex  on  its  front  or  anterior  sur- 
face, concave  on  its  back,  or  posterior,  and  has  clefts  which  divide 
it  into  three  lobes  of  unequal  size. 

The  chief  mass  of  the  liver  is  made  up  of  cells,  like  many  other 
parts  of  the  body ;  and  these  cells  are  placed  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
terminations  of  the  portal  veins,  from  whence  the  former  derive  their 
blood. 

The  liver  has  a  covering,  common  to  all  the  organs  contained  in 
the  cavity  of  the  abdomen,  known  as  the  peritoneum,  a  beautifully 
transparent  membrane  ;  it  plays  an  important  function  in  the  animal 
economy,  inasmuch  as  it  fin-nishes  the  means  necessary  to  guard 
against  friction,  which  would  otherwise  occur,  to  the  utter  ruin  of 
the  contiguous  parts. 

It  was  formerly  supposed  that  the  function  of  the  liver  was  merely 
to  eliminate  bile  from  the  venous  blood,  and  thus  it  received  the 
appellation  puri^o — a  purifying  organ — but  modern  physiologists 
have  discovered  that  the  blood  itself  is  materially  changed  during 
its  chcalation  through  the  vessels  of  the  liver  ;  for  example,  the  liver 


102  TREATMENT    OF   DISEASES 

elaborates  febrine  from  albumen,  and  fat  from  sugar,  and  sugar  from 
fat.  Tiie  fact  in  relation  to  these  agents,  sugar  and  fat,  is,  they  do 
not  materially  differ  in  their  chemical  composition,  only  that  one  con- 
tains a  little  more  oxygen  than  the  other ;  and,  from  satisfactory 
data,  we  are  led  to  infer  that  the  liver  occasionally  stores  up  fatty 
matter,  or  sugar,  for  the  day  of  adversity,  or  starvation  day,  so  that 
when  the  system  has  no  other  means  of  obtaining  it  the  liver  must 
supply  it,  or  yield  up  what  it  contains  of  fatty  matter. 

The  circulation  of  the  liver  is  a  very  interesting  matter  for  the 
investigation  of  amateurs  and  inquirers.  The  liver,  like  other  organs 
of  the  body,  is  supplied  with  arterial  blood,  from  the  great  aorta, 
for  its  own  support  and  nourishment,  and  it  also  receives  an  immense 
amount  of  venous  blood  from  veins  commencinor  in  the  sastro-intesti- 
nal  cavities,  terminating  m  a  vessel  known  as  the  voia  portce, or  "gate 
vein."  Portce  is  derived  from  the  Latin,  which  signifies  "gate,"  or 
"  entrance."  The  vena  portce,  on  entering  the  liver,  ramifies  in  vari- 
ous directions  like  the  common  arteries  of  the  body,  and  ultimately 
terminates  in  veins  peculiar  to  the  liver.  Hence,  it  will  be  perceived 
that  the  venous  blood,  instead  of  being  permitted  to  return  directly 
from  the  stomach  and  intestines  to  the  heart,  is  compelled  to  complete 
the  circuit  of  circulation  through  the  liver,  and  by  this  peculiar 
arrangement  the  transformations  alluded  to  are  effected.  The  liver, 
therefore,  performs  the  double  function  of  excretion  and  secretion  y 
secretes  gall  or  "  bile,"  and  excretes  carbon  and  hydrogen  from  the 
system. 

As  REGARDS  THE  DISEASES  OP  THE  LivER.  It  is  probablc  that 
the  liver  often  becomes  diseased  in  consequence  of  overfeeding;  it 
is  well  known  that  the  livers  of  men  and  animals  can  be  artificially 
enlarged,  by  cramming  either  with  an  unnecessary  amount  of  food; 
favorite  dishes  are  often  prepared  from  the  livers  of  geese  artificially 
enlarged,  by  stufting  the  animal  with  food,  and  at  the  same  time  con- 
fining it  in  a  dark  room  without  exercise.  We  learn  that  under  such 
barbarous  management  there  is  a  disproportion  between  the  oxygen 
respired  in  the  lungs,  and  the  carbon  introduced  into  the  system  in 
the  form  of  food.  An  excess  of  carbonaceous  material  in  the  sys- 
tem of  man  or  horse,  is  apt  to  affect  the  integrity  of  the  liver  and 
develop  the  condition  known  as  jaundice,  and  this  cause  is  more 
certainly  operative  in  the  systems  of  animals  of  the  bilious  tempera- 
ment. 

Jaundice,  as  it  occurs  among  horses,  is  usually  a  functional  disor- 
der, yet  should  it  remain  unrelieved  for  some  lapse  of  time,  and  the 
same  errors  of  diet  and  management  be  continued,  the  chances  are 
in  favor  of  its  ending  in  structural  disease.  Occasionally  the  bile 
thickens  and  accumulates  in  its  ducts,  and  leads  to  the  formation  of 
gall  stones,  which  finally  occasion  the  death  of  the  subject. 

The  principal  symptoms  of  liver  disease  are  a  yellow  tinge  of  the 
visible  surfaces  ;  languid  pulse  ;  dull,  sleepy  appearance  ;  urine  high- 
colored  ;  excrement  dark-colored  ;  bowels  constipated,  tfec.  t&c. 

Common  salt  is  a  valuable  agent  in  preventing  bilious  diseases,  for 
salt  undergoes  oxydation  in  the  system  and  forms  soda,  and  this  soda 
is  employed  in  the  formation  of  bile.  Bile  consists  of  carbon,  hy- 
drogen and  soda;   its  carbon  and  hydi'ogen  are  the  carbon  and 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  103 

hydrogen  that  are  thrown,  as  waste  material,  into  the  blood  by  the 
destruction  or  decomposition  of  textures  containing  these  elements. 
The  waste  carbon,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  waste  hydrogen 
of  the  body,  are  separated  by  the  liver  from  the  returning  venous 
blood,  and  are  then  thrown  out  into  the  bowels  in  the  form  of  bile. 

Bile  can  be  converted  into  a  sort  of  soap  by  the  addition  of  soda, 
which  fact  indicates  that  we  should  use  soda,  or  salt,  in  the  treat- 
ment of  liver  diseases.  The  reader  is  probably  aware  that  common 
salt  is  nothing  more  than  soda  combined  with  chlorine,  and  that  soap 
is  merely  oil  mingled  with  potass  or  soda. 

Salt  is  considered  as  a  specific  for  "  rot"  in  sheep.  The  disease 
known  as  rot,  originates  in  a  diseased  condition  of  the  liver,  which 
gives  origin  to  parasites  known  as  flukes  {distoma  hepaticum),  hence 
it  is  good  policy  for  sheep  raisers  to  see  that  their  flocks  have  free 
access  to  salt. 

Very  many  unnecessary  cases  of  liver  disease,  and  premature 
deaths,  in  consequence,  are  constantly  occurring,  which  may  often 
be  traced  to  errors  in  diet,  therefore  I  advise  all  persons  having 
charge  of  domestic  animals,  not  to  over-feed.  This  part  of  the 
United  States  in  which  I  am  now  located  is  the  great  corn-bin  of  the 
country,  and  there  is  great  danger  of  men  (who  love  to  see  their 
animals  in  good  condition),  dipping  their  hands  too  deep  into  the 
pile  of  corn,  to  the  sure  and  certain  ruin  of  many  fine  specimens  of 
the  horse  kind. 

Gall  Bladder.  I  presume  that  most  of  my  readers  are  acquainted 
with  the  fact  that  the  liver  of  the  horse  is  destitute  of  a  gall  bladder; 
yet  on  the  upper  and  inner  edge  of  the  right  lobe  is  a  small  duct, 
just  large  enough  to  admit  of  the  introduction  of  a  common  sized 
pencil ;  this  duct  receives  many  small  ducts  from  tubes  from  the 
interior  of  the  liver,  and  through  them  the  bile  finds  its  way  into  the 
main  duct,  and  from  thence  into  the  duodenum. 

Treatment  of  Functional  Disease  of  the  Liver. — The  indi- 
cations to  be  fulfilled,  in  the  treatment  of  this  aflection,  are  to  admin- 
ister agents  which  are  likely  to  have  a  tonic  and  alterative  efiect, 
and  in  this  view  I  recommend  the  following : 

Podophyllum  Peltatum 1  ounce. 

Carbonate  of  Soda \      " 

Chloride  of  Sodium 1       " 

Goldenseal 1       *' 

Mix.     Divide  into  8  parts,  and  give  one  night  and  morning. 


ON  THE  MODES  OF  PERFORMING  OPERATIONS. 

Securing  the  Horse. — In  performing  most  of  the  minor  opera- 
vions  on  horses,  the  Rarey  strap  on  one  fore  leg,  and  a  twitch  on  the 
nose,  are  the  means  needed  to  insure  submission.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, when  performing  operations  about  the  region  of  the  throat, 
and  the  patient  being  unruly,  it  will  be  necessary  to  blindfold  him, 
so  that  if  he  should  strike  with  the  fore  feet  he  cannot  take  aim ; 
in  this  way  the  operator  may  escape  a  very  severe  blow. 


104  TREATMENT   OF  DISEASES 

In  some  more  important  operations  the  side  line  is  resorted  to ; 
it  is  applicable  when  nicking  or  docking  a  horse,  that  is  disposed  to 
strike  behind.  The  side  line  consists  in  passing  a  hobble  around 
the  pastern  of  one  hind  leg,  and  then  carrying  from  a  loop  around 
the  neck  the  end  of  a  rope,  which  is  passed  through  the  iron  ring  of 
the  hobble,  and  then  back  to  the  loop  where  it  is  secured  ;  this, 
when  properly  secured,  prevents  the  horse  from  kicking;  sometimes 
both  hind  legs  are  secured  in  this  way.  When  castrating,  or  per- 
forming any  very  important  operation,  the  horse  should  be  cast ; 
some  persons  prefer  to  cast  after  the  fashion  of  Rarey,  and  then  se- 
cure the  animal's  legs  Avhen  down.  My  plan  is,  to  cast  by  means  of 
plain  and  simple  hobbles,  one  of  which  is  buckled  to  each  leg, 
below  the  fetlock ;  the  rope  is  then  rove  through  all  the  rings,  and 
the  ring  through  which  the  end  of  the  rope  comes  last,  is  called  the 
main  hobble,  and  into  it,  the  clasp  end  of  the  rope  is  to  be  inserted ; 
a  couple  of  persons  pull  on  the  rope  which  approximates  the  limbs, 
bring  them  under  the  centre  of  gravity,  when  a  slight  push  will 
throw  the  horse  on  his  side. 

The  surgeon  is  assisted  much,  when  performing  any  important 
operation,  by  SBtherizing  the  animal ;  this  renders  him  insensible  to 
pain,  and  he  lies  on  the  floor  as  tranquil  as  if  he  were  asleep. 

OPERATIONS. 

Castration. — In  the  United  States  are  a  great  number  of  persons 
who,  from  long  practice,  have  made  themselves  quite  competent 
in  the  performance  of  this  operation,  and,  consequently,  where  the 
services  of  such  persons  are  to  be  obtained,  the  veterinary  surgeon 
is  not  often  called  upon.  The  most  safe  and  successful  method  ever 
practiced  in  this  country,  is  by  means  of  the  caustic  clams  or  clamps, 
which  are  applied  to  the  spermatic  cord.  The  caustic  lodges  in  a 
groove  cut  in  the  centre  of  the  internal  surface  of  the  clams.  The 
clams  may  be  made  of  different  kinds  of  wood,  but  it  is  said 
the  "  elder''''  wood  is  most  preferable,  as  it  already  contanis  a  groove, 
and  is  quite  light  when  compared  with  harder  wood.  The  caustic 
used  in  my  practice,  of  late,  is  composed  of  one  drachm  of  red  pre- 
cipitate, half  a  drachm  of  corrosive  sublimate,  and  one  ounce  of 
simple  ointment ;  these  are  to  be  well  mixed  ;  then  fill  up  the  groove 
in  the  wood  with  the  same,  and  it  is  fit  for  use. 

When  the  clams  are  applied  to  the  spermatic  cord,  they  should  be 
brought  together  by  means  of  pincers  or  screw  forceps,  so  as  to 
secure  complete  pressure  on  the  arteries  and  thus  prevent  after 
bleeding.  The  clams  may  be  removed  about  sixteen  or  twenty 
hours  after  the  operation. 

When  it  is  suspected  that  the  animal  has,  or  may,  become 
the  subject  of  scrotal  hernia,  the  covered  operation  is  to  be 
performed,  tlien  the  clam  is  placed  outside  the  external  peritoneal 
covering  of  the  cord. 

Mr.  Goodin,  a  celebrated  castrator,  always  performed  the  covered 
operation. 

I  have  often  performed  the  operation  by  placing  a  ligature  around 
the  cord,  but  I  think  that  it  is  rather  more  painful  than  to  apply  the 
clams. 


PECULIAR   TO   nOESES.  105 

Gpeeation  fob  Stone  in  the  Bladder. — This  operation,  known 
as  lithotomy,  is  usually  performed  on  the  male  by  making  an  incision 
into  the  urethra.  We  first  introduce  a  whalebone  staff  or  urethral 
catheter  in  the  ordinary  way  by  the  penis  ;  when  the  point  of  it  can 
be  felt,  just  beneath  the  lower  margui  of  the  anus,  an  incision  is 
made  right  into  the  urethra ;  this  opening  must  be  enlarged  so  as  to 
admit  the  lith9tomy  forceps,  and  allow  the  stone  to  be  extracted ; 
the  operator  now  introduces  the  forceps  into  the  bladder,  seizes  the 
stone  and  extracts  it }  the  incision  is  then  brought  together  by  a  few 
stitches. 

Tracheotomy. — Tracheotomy  consists  in  making  an  incision  into 
the  windpipe  ;  the  place  selected  for  the  operation  is  from  seven  to 
ten  inches  beneath  the  throat.  In  performing  the  operation  an  in- 
cision is  to  be  made  through  the  skin  right  down  upon  the  windpipe, 
then  slit  open  the  windpipe  to  the  extent  of  two  inches,  and  insert 
the  tracheotomy  tube  ;  should  the  instrument  not  be  at  hand,  insert 
a  piece  of  India  rubber  tubing  until  a  bent  tube  can  be  obtained. 
Some  surgeons  prefer  to  dissect  a  cii'cular  piece  of  cartilage,  wliich 
must  correspond  to  the  calibre  of  the  tube.  I  have  perlbrmed  in 
both  ways  and  have  no  preference. 

It  is  necessary  to  perform  the  operation  when  the  danger  of  suf- 
focation becomes  imminent,  either  from  the  presence  of  tumors  in 
strangles,  obstructions  within  the  larynx,  spasm  of  the  larynx, 
and  sometimes  when  an  unswallowed  substance  remains  in  the 
oesophagus  and  threatens  to  choke  the  animal;  although  in  the 
latter  case  it  may  be  more  pi-udent  to  open  the  oesophagus,  or 
gullet. 

CEsophagotomy. — This  operation  consists  of  an  incision  through 
the  skin  and  gullet,  on  the  left  side  of  the  neck.  It  is  usually  per-- 
formed  when  a  large  quantity  of  food  obtains  a  lodgment  in  the 
oesophagus.  The  mode  is  to  operate,  or  cut  down,  upon  the  centre 
of  the  impacted  food  and  remove  it;  after  sponging  the  parts  with 
warm  water,  bring  the  edges  together  by  means  of  sutures,  then 
wipe  the  parts  dry,  sprinkle  with  flour,  and  dress  with  collodion. 

After  an  operation  of  this  kind,  the  patient  should  be  sparuigly 
fed  on  sloppy  food. 

Neurotomy. — This  operation  consists  in  a  di\asion  of  the  sentient 
nerves  of  the  foot ;  there  are  two  modes  practiced  in  performing  it. 
In  one  case  the  metacarpal  nerves  above  the  fetlock  are  divided — 
this  is  called  the  high  operation ;  in  the  other,  the  nerves  beneath 
the  fetlock  are  the  seat  of  the  incision  and  division,  and  this  is  called 
the  low  operation,  which  latter  I  believe  is  the  most  rational  one. 

In  performing  this  operation,  we  cast  the  horse  and  secure  him ; 
one  fore  leg  at  a  time  is  then  released  from  the  hobble,  a  welling  or 
small  rope  is  then  placed  around  the  hoof,  and  firmly  held  by  an 
assistant.  The  nerve  lies  in  close  proximity  with  the  perforatus  tendon, 
which  is  a  sui-e  guide  to  its  locality.  The  hair  being  shaved  off  at 
the  precise  spot,  an  incision  through  the  skin  and  cellular  tissue  ex- 
poses the  blood  vessels  and  nerve  ;  the  latter  may  be  known  by  its 
whiteness.    A  needle  or  bistoury  is  then  passed  under  the  nerve, 


106  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES  ^' 

and  the  nerve  is  divided.  It  is  customary  to  amputate  a  small  piece' 
from  that  part  of  the  nerve  next  the  foot,  so  as  to  prevent  immediate 
reunion.  If  both  feet  are  to  be  operated  on,  the  nerve  on  the  same 
side  of  the  other  foot  may  be  divided ;  then  roll  the  horse  over  and 
operate  on  the  other  sides  of  the  feet. 

DrvTsioN  OF  THE  Flexor  Tendons. — Division  of  the  flexor 
tendons  of  the  fore  limbs  is  usually  performed  in  view  of  curing 
*' sprung  knees;"  which  are  often  the  result  of  contraction  of  the' 
annular  ligament,  which  ties  down  the  flexor  tendons  just  below  the 
knees,  or  it  may  be  occasioned  by  contraction  of  the  tendons  them- 
selves. 

The  tendon,  or  tendons,  once  divided,  and  their  surfaces  kept 
apart,  by  a  mechanical  contrivance  appended  to  the  toe  of  the  shoe, 
interstitial  deposits  are  thi'own  out,  and  when  the  parts  are  again 
united,  length  has  been  acquired,  and  in  some  cases  the  animal  is 
much  benefited  and  his  usefulness  increased  ;  it  would  not  be  good 
policy,  however,  to  operate  on  an  aged  horse ;  it  is  only  when  the 
operation  is  performed  on  young  animals  that  it  is  likely  to  be  of 
any  benefit.  One  or  both  tendons  maybe  divided  without  the  least 
danger;  the  strong  suspensory  ligament  inserted  at  the  upper  part 
the  cannon  passes  down  at  the  back  part  of  the  same,  and  is  so  dis- 
posed of  at  the  fetlock  that  it  is  impossible  for  the  parts  to  give  way, 
notyithstanding  the  temporary  loss  of  function  of  the  flexors. 

When  about  to  perform  this  operation,  the  horse  should  be  cast, 
and  secured ;  then  make  a  small  incision  along  the  inner  edge  of  the 
flexors,  about  midway  between  the  knee  and  fetlock,  introduce  a 
probe-pointed  bistourie  with  convex  edge,  and  by  a  sort  of  sawing 
motion,  sever  one  or  both  tendons ;  an  assistant,  however,  will  be 
required  to  keep  the  limb  rigid  while  the  tendons  are  being  severed, 
or  they  cannot  be  cut  without  doing  some  injui'y  to  other  parts. 

The  operation  finished,  a  cold  water  bandage  is  to  be  applied,  and 
the  horse  should  then  be  allowed  to  rise. 

The  heels  should  now  be  pared  very  thin,  and  a  toe  piece  tacked 
on,  having  a  projection  in  fi-ont,  which  will  keep  the  divided  edges 
of  the  tendons  apart. 

Operation  for  Aneruism. — Aneurism  is  a  pulsating  tumor  filled 
with  the  arterial  blood;  it  usually  arises  from  the  rupture  of  the 
muscular  coat  of  an  artery  and  dilatation  of  its  cellular  covering. 
The  only  plan  of  curing  is  to  cut  down  upon  the  artery  and  place  a 
ligature  around  it. 

Operation  for  Fistula  op  the  Parotid  Duct.  —  A  fistulous 
parotid  duct  signifies  an  unnatural  outlet  for  the  saliva  se- 
creted by  the  parotid  gland ;  instead  of  the  fluid  passing  into  the 
mouth,  it  now,  in  consequence  of  a  wound  just  below  the  ear,  runs 
outwardly  down  the  neck  and  face.  The  old  method  of  treatment 
was  very  barbarous,  the  budding  iron  was  the  instrument  with  which 
the  unfortunate  creature  was  tortured,  and  it  very  seldom  did 
much  good. 

The  modern  treatment  is  more  rational;  it  contemplates  a  closure 
of  the   fistulous  opening  without  doing  injury  to  the  surrounding 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  107 

parts.  The  method  is  as  follows  :  Send  a  steel  pin  through  the  edges 
of  the  orifice,  and  wind  horse  hair  around  it  after  the  fashion  of 
closing  an  orilice  in  the  jugular  vein  ;  havmg  done  so,  keep  the  parts 
coated  with  collodion. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  HEART  OF  THE  HORSE. 

The  heart  of  a  horse  is  a  powerful  and  wonderful  piece  of  mech- 
anism ;  its  function  is  of  the  involuntary  order,  so  that  regular  con- 
tractions and  expansions,  or  beatings  occur  in  the  normal  state,  with- 
out the  animal  being  conscious  of  the  same  ;  these  contractions  and 
expansions,  however,  can  be  modified,  by  means  of  various  medici- 
nal agents  which  act  upon  the  nervous  sy.«tem,  thus  producing  a  sort 
of  mixed  action — voluntary  and  involuntary — all  medicines  known 
as  sedatives^  operate  to  depress  the  action  of  the  heart,  and  lessen 
for  a  certain  time  the  number  of  its  pulsations  ;  while  on  the  other 
hand,  stimulants  augment  action,  and  increase  the  number  of  heats. 

The  weigJit  of  the  heart  is  about  seven  pounds,  yet  considerable 
variations  in  this  weight  will  occur  among  the  various  breeds  of 
horses,  even  at  an  adult  age.  For  example:  A  horse  having  a  coars^ 
and  gigantic,  bony,  and  muscular  organization,  will  be  likely  to  be 
in  possession  of  a  much  larger  heart  than  a  compact  horse  of  the  ner- 
vous temperament,  even  although  both  shall  be  of  the  same  age. 

The  ipJerior  of  the  heart  is  divided  into  four  cavities,  two  of 
which  being  in  the  superior  and  anterior  direction,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  bearing  some  resemblance  to  the  external  conformation 
of  the  ears  of  a  dog,  are  termed  atcricles  /  the  auricles,  therefore, 
should  be  known  as  the  superior  cavities  of  the  heart.  These  cavi- 
ties are  known  as  right  and  left,  or  rather  anterior  and  posterior  ; 
their  division  occurs  through  the  intervention  of  their  septum,  or 
wall  of  muscle,  known  as  the  septum  auriculoriwi. 

The  right  auricle  is  the  receptacle  for  venous  blood,  and  three 
venous  trunks  terminate  in  it,  viz.,  the  anterior  vena  cava,  which 
returns  the  venous  blood  from  the  anterior  extremities,  head  and 
neck — next,  the  vena  cava  posterior,  which  returns  the  venous  blood 
from  the  posterior  parts,  and  lastly,  the  coronary  vein ;  the  latter 
returns  blood  w^hich  has  circulated  through  the  heart  itself  for  its 
own  nourishment.  A  considerable  quantity  of  dark  venous  blood  is 
generally  found  in  this  auricle  after  death,  and  it  opens  into  the  right 
or  antei'ior  ventricle,  by  an  aperture  denominated  the  auriculo-ventri- 
cular  opening,  yet  in  consequence  of  a  valvular  contrivance  within 
the  ventricle,  the  blood  cannot  recede  into  the  auricle. 

Internally,  the  right  auricle  is  lined  by  a  glistening  vascular  mem- 
brane, having  on  various  parts  of  its  surface,  small  muscular  emi- 
nences, termed  musculi pecunati ;  the  small  cavities  which  occur,  in 
consequence  of  this  arrangement,  are  termed  cul-de-sacs.  The  rights 
or  venous  ventricle,  is  also  lined  by  a  nicely'  organized  membrane, 
and  has  beneath  it  several  muscs.;lar  prominences  named  carnm  col- 
umnm  which  give  origin  to  as  many  tendinous  slips,  which  are  known 
as  chordce  tendinoe  ;  they  are  inserted  into  a  fibrous  membrane  in  the 
region  of  the  articulo-ventricular  opening,  and  then  get  the  name 


108  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

(membrane  included)  ua^yw^i  tricusjns.  The  lateral  contractions  of 
this  ventricle  are  aided  by  small  tendinous  cords  having  muscular 
origins  from  the  wall  and  septum.  The  venous  blood  passes  from 
this  cavity  into  the  pulmonary  tissues  for  oxygenation,  through  the 
pulmonary  artery,  which  emerges  from  the  superior  part  of  the  ven-J^ 
f.ricle.  At  the  commencement  of  the  pulmonary  artery  are  found  three 
valves  termed  semi-lunar  /  their  function  is  to  guard  against  a  retro- 
grade movement  of  the  blood,  so  that  it  has  no  other  channel  than 
this  which  leads  to  the  lungs. 

The  left  auricle  has  scarcely  any  anatomical  or  structural  differ- 
ences from  those  observed  in  the  right,  although  its  cavity  is  smaller, 
and  its  walls  are  somewhat  thicker  than  those  found  on  the  right. 
It  receives  the  blood  from  the  lungs,  after  puritication,  by  means  of 
the  pulmonary  veins,  which  have  four  openings  into  this  cavity,  two 
proceeding  from  the  right,  and  two  from  the  left  lobes.  The  left,  or 
arterial  ventricle,  is  the  reservoir  for  arterial  blood,  which  is  des- 
tined to  reanimate,  replenish,  and  perpetuate  the  vital  economy;  hav- 
ing a  vastly  more  important  function  to  perform  (which  requires  aug- 
mented muscular  mechanism,)  than  its  duplicate  found  on  the  right 
side,  the  thickness  of  its  walls  must,  therefore,  necessarily  exceed 
those  of  the  right ;  this  is  found  to  be  the  case,  so  that  the  outer 
wall  of  this  cavity  is  about  three  times  as  thick  as  that  found  on  the 
other  side,  and  this  guide  is  useful  to  us  in  determining,  at  sight, 
after  the  heart  is  detached  from  the  body,  which  is  the  left  ventricle 
and  vice  versa. 

The  channel  of  communication  between  the  left  auricle  and  ven- 
trieleis  named,  as  is  the  case  on  the  opposite  side,  auriculo-ventricu- 
lar  opening  ;  it  is  furnished  however  with  only  iioo,  instead  of  three, 
valvular  openings,  termed  valvula  bicuspis  or  mitralis. 

This  ventricle  is  one  of  importance  for  our  consideration,  from  the 
fact  that  the  great  aorta — the  plastic  hose,  which  seldom,  if  ever, 
requires  cohhling  or  repair,  here  originates.  Its  margin  or  outlet  is 
guarded  by  a  complete  set  of  valves,  three  in  number,  termed  sem^-^w- 
nar,  similar  to  those  found  at  the  origin  of  the  pulmonary  artery. 
This  ventricle  is  divided  from  the  one  on  the  opposite  side  by  a  mus- 
cular and  tendinous  partition,  termed  septum  ventricular um. 

Form,  situation,  and  attachment  of  the  heart. — Its  form  des- 
cribes that  simulating  a  cone,  having  a  body,  base  and  apex  /  its 
base  being  in  a  superior  direction,  it  follows,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
that  its  apex  has  an  inferior  insertion  downwards  and  backwards. 

Situation. — The  heart  lies  -in  the  region  occupied  by  the  fourth, 
fifth  and  sixth  dorsal  vertebroe,  right  in  the  central  region  known  as 
the  cavity  of  the  chest;  its  apex  is  inclined  to  the  left  side. 

Attachment. — The  base  of  the  heart  is  attached  to  the  anterior 
and  superior  portion  of  the  cavity  of  the  chest,  by  the  venous  and 
jirterial  trunks  running  to  and  from  it,  and  these  in  turn  have  their  im- 
inediate  and  intermediate  unions  with  various  tissues  in  the  vicinity, 
"Which  tend  to  keep  the  heart  in  its  proper  position  and  allow  of  some 
degree  of  motion.  Above  the  roots  of  the  large  blood-vessels,  and 
adhering  to  the  pleura,  commences  the  pe7'icardium,  a  strong  mem- 
branous sac,  which  contains  the  heart;  this  sac  is  attached  to  the 
sternum,  and  to  a  part  of  the  tendinous  portion  of  the  diaphragm. 

Pericardium. — This  tunic,    called  by  butchers  the  heart-bag^  is. 


PECULIAE   TO  nOKSES.  109 

composed  of  two  membranes,  united  together  by  cellular  tissue ;  the 
external  one  is  of  a  fibrous  character,  dense  and  strong;  the  inter- 
nal is  smooth  and  glistening,  and  very  much  resembles  that  found 
within  the  cavity  of  the  chest,  known  as  the  pleura  ;  its  function  is 
to  secrete  a  fluid  called  the  liquor  pericardii ;  this  fluid  being  inter- 
posed between  the  internal  surface  of  the  pericardium  and  the  mem- 
brane proper  of  the  heart,  guards  against  friction.  It  is  within  the 
pericardium  that  we  occasionally  meet  with  a  disease  known  as 
hydrops  pericardii. 


REASONS  WHY  HORSES  DO  NOT  BREATPIE  THROUGH 
THEIR  MOUTHS ! 

The  soft  palate,  as  it  is  technically  called,  velum  palati,  is  a  sort 
of  curtain  affixed  to  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  in  the  region  of  the  pal- 
atine arch ;  it  has  a  free  edge  which  rests  upon  the  epiglottis.*  It 
slants  in  a  posterior  direction,  so  that  anything  in  the  shape  of  food 
coming  from  the  mouth,  raises  and  pushes  it  backward  ;  but  any- 
thing coming  from  the  oesophagus  or  trachea,  pushes  it  forwai'd  and 
downward,  closes  it,  and  thus  prevents  all  egress.  So  that  air  is 
expired  and  respired  through  the  nasal  outlet,  and  all  matter  vom- 
ited from  the  stomach  must  also  be  ejected  through  the  nostrils.  In 
the  act  of  coughing,  however,  which  is  a  spasmodic  action,  the  air 
returns  in  body  and  with  force  sufficient  to  raise  the  velum  palati,  so 
that  a  passage  through  the  mouth  is,  at  the  moment,  secured. 

The  mechanism  of  the  soft  palate  is  as  follows :  Its  composition 
is  nearly  the  same  as  that  of  the  hard  palate,  yet  it  abounds  moi-e  in 
glandular  substance  and  muscular  fibre ;  by  means  of  the  levator 
palati,  its  substance  is  raised.  On  the  lateral  and  internal  portion  of 
the  membrane  we  find  bundles  of  muscular  fibres,  constituting  a  pair 
of  muscles  known  as  depressors^  which  aid  in  retaining  the  palate 
in  its  place,  viz.,  on  the  epiglottis.  From  the  above  brief  remarks 
the  reader  will  perceive  that  it  is  not  natural  for  ahorse  to  breathe 
through  his  mouth. 


,      USE  OF  THE  HARD  PALATE,  OR   'BARS"  OF  A 
HORSE'S  MOUTH. 

,  The  palate  of  the  horse's  mouth  is  divided,  according  to  custom, 
into  two  parts,  denominated  soft  and  hard.  The  soft  portion  runs 
in  a  superior  and  posterior  direction,  to  the  region  of  the  base  of  the 
tongue,  and  serves  to  separate  the  mouth  from  the  fauces. f  The 
hard  palate  is  marked  crosswise  by  prominent  ridges  and  furrows 
from  side  to  side,  which  are  called  the  "  bars."  They  serve  to  aid 
in  keeping  the  food  within  the  mouth  during  mastication.  Were  it 
not  for  this  contrivance  {the  horse's  head  being  pendulous),  it  would 

*  Cartilage  at  the  root  of  the  tongue. 

+  Fauces.  The  back  part  of  the  mouth.  The  soft  palate  is  a  mere  expanded  uvula.  It  origi- 
nates at  the  arch  of  the  palate  bone,  where  the  hard  palate  terminates. 


110  TKEATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

be  very  difficult  for  the  animal  to  retain  food  within  the  mouth 
during  mastication.  The  hard  palate  is  not  very  highly  organized, 
nor  so  sensitive  as  some  persons  seem  to  suppose.  It  is  said  to  be 
the  seat  of  lampas,  which  is  a  mere  state  of  relaxation,  causing  the 
folds  or  bars  to  appear  tumefied,  so  as  to  be  almost  on  a  level  with 
the  upper  incisors.  For  the  removal  of  this  painless  tumefaction,  a 
barbarous  remedy  is  resorted  to,  viz.,  the  actual  cautery,*  an  opera- 
tion never  necessary  nor  safe  ;  and,  knowing  these  facts,  no  gentle- 
man, I  think,  will  ever  allow  so  noble  and  useful  an  animal  as  a 
horse  to  be  thus  painfully  used.  Knowing  as  we  do  the  function  of 
the  bars,  and  setting  aside  the  barbarity  of  the  actual  cautery,  such 
an  operation  must  be  injudicious,  because  it  involves  a  loss  of  struc- 
ture, and  the  bars  are  never  so  prominent  as  before.  Aside  from 
this,  we  are  doing  our  very  worst  to  create  a  sore  mouth. 

Structuke  of  the  Palate. — It  is  composed  of  epithelium  (scarf 
skin),  condensed  basement  membrane,  mucous  and  areolar,  or  ceUu- 
lar  tissue. 

The  mucous  membrane  makes  up  the  greatest  part  of  the  thick- 
ness of  the  palate.  Its  sensibility,  when  compared  with  that  of  the 
skin,  is  very  inferior.  It  seems  to  be  better  adapted  for  absorption 
and  secretion  than  for  the  function  of  sensation. 

While  discussing  this  matter,  we  may  as  well  inform  the  reader 
what  is  the  best  plan  of  treatment  for  tumefaction  or  relaxation  of 
the  palate,  known  as  "lampas."  The  remedy  is  astringent  lotions, 
and  proper  attention  to  stable  management.  A  little  powdered 
alum  rubbed  on  the  palate  once  daily,  for  a  short  time,  will  fre- 
quently effect  a  cure. 


CHOLERA  IN  ANIMALS. 

It  is  said  that  during  the  prevalence  of  cholera  in  Bromberg, 
horses  were  unusually  subject  to  cholic  and  other  intestinal  affec- 
tions, and  sometimes  passed  blood  with  their  evacuations. 


ROT. 


According  to  the  best  authorities,  rot  may  be  considered  a  para- 
sitic disease.  It  is  actually  a  state  of  systemic  debility,  the  para- 
sites abounding  simply  because  the  system  is  in  a  condition  favorable 
for  their  development.  The  remedy  is,  equal  pai'ts  of  salt,  sul- 
phur, charcoal  and  ginger ;  the  dose  varying  from  a  tea  spoonful 
to  five  or  six  drachms  occasionally. 


PLETHORA. 

Mr.  Garagee  says,  "The  subject  of  plethora,  especially  with  re- 
gard to  the  changes  suddenly  occurring  in  the  blood  from  a  variety 

♦  Actual  cautery.    Red  hot  Iron. 


PECULIAK   TO   nOESES.  '  111 

of  causes,  calls  for  the  most  serious  attention  of  veterinarians ;  and 
we  may,  in  the  course  of  time,  unravel  some  of  the  mystery  attend- 
ing that  very  numerous  class  of  diseases  described  by  continental 
authors  under  the  head  '  Carbuncular  Affections,"  or  different  forms 
of  anthrax.  From  the  Latin  carbo,  the  term  carbuncular  has  been 
derived ;  and  all  the  diseases  thus  designated  have  the  peculiarity 
of  inducing,  or  being  attended  by,  a  black  or  a  very  dark  color  of 
the  blood.  But  this  character  is  too  vague  to  warrant  the  grouping 
together  of  many  maladies  distinguished  from  each  other  by  very 
important  signs  and  results." 


POISONING  BY  ARSENIC. 

The  following  case  from  my  note  book  may  furnish  the  reader  some 
valuable  information  in  view  of  saving  the  life  of  a  horse  when  acci- 
dentally or  maliciously  poisoned  by  the  destructive  agent  known  as 
arsenic,  or  rats-bane. 

History  of  the  Case. — The  subject,  a  roan  gelding,  aged  eight 
years,  the  property  of  Messrs.  Flanders  &  Eastman,  of  Boston,  was 
employed  in  the  capacity  of  a  truck-horse,  and  used  as  a  leader.  On 
the  10th  of  August,  1861,  a  quantity  of  arsenic,  packed  in  kegs  not 
properly  coopered,  was  landed  on  one  of  the  wharves,  and  the  above 
firm  were  engaged  to  truck  it  to  the  store  of  the  consignees.  While 
rolling  the  kegs  on  the  truck,  a  quantity  of  the  arsenic  was  distri- 
buted over  the  shafts,  and  before  the  driver  was  aware  of  it,  the 
horse  had  gathered  and  swallowed  a  quantity  of  the  poison.  Imme- 
diately on  discovering  what  the  animal  was  about,  the  driver,  with 
a  gloved  hand,  removed  from  the  tongue  and  lips  as  much  as  possi- 
ble of  the  poison.  The  horse  was  shortly  afterwards  taken  to  the 
stable  of  its  owner,  when  I  was  called  to  attend  him. 

Appearance  op  the  Patient  at  the  Stable. — The  pulse,  at 
the  angle  of  the  jaw,  was  quickened,  yet  scarcely  perceptible  ;  show- 
ing that  the  poison  had  acted  as  a  sedative  or  depressor  of  the  heart's 
function ;  respiratory  action  rather  laborious ;  surface  of  the  body 
rather  chilly  ;  lower  parts  of  the  limbs  quite  cold  :  visible  surfaces, 
viz.,  those  of  the  mouth,  nose  and  eyes,  considerably  injected  or 
reddened  ;  mouth  hot,  and  the  breath  had  a  very  bad  odor.  On  ap- 
plying my  ear  to  the  walls  of  the  abdomen,  I  detected  an  active 
rumbling  noise. 

Treatment. — Administered  one  pint  of  lime  water,  and  the  white 
or  albumen  of  two  eggs  ;  the  surface  of  the  body  was  then  faith- 
fully rubbed  with  straw,  and  willing  arms  ;  and  finally,  a  pint  of 
lime  water  to  half  a  bucket  of  pure  water  was  placed  before  the 
patient,  so  that  in  case  he  should  be  thirsty  he  might  satisfy  that 
thirst,  and  at  the  same  time  introduce  a  portion  of  lime  water  within 
the  stomach.  It  now  being  near  midnight,  I  gave  one  ounce  and  a 
half  of  pure  glycerine,  and  left  the  animal  in  charge  of  his  owners. 

Early  on  the  following  morning  I  found  active  purgation  had  com- 
menced ;  this  I  considered  a  favorable  omen — an  effort  of  nature  to 


112  TREATMENT   OE   DISEASES 

rid  the  system  of  poisonous  and  morbid  material — and  I  felt  that 
no  immediate  danger  was  to  be  apprehended.  I  however  attempted 
to  drench  the  animal  with  a  small  quantity  of  lime  water  and  pow- 
dered charcoal,  merely  to  a^lkalize  and  deodorize  the  contents  of  the 
intestinal  canal,  but  I  found  it  impossible  to  get  a  drop  of  it  down 
the  oesophagus,  in  consequence  of  constriction  at  the  upper  portion 
of  the  same,  a  condition  of  the  parts  that  usually  follows  the  admin- 
istration of  an  overdose  of  arsenic. 

The  symptoms,  as  observed  on  my  previous  visit,  had  undergone 
but  slight  change,  yet  the  surface  of  the  body  was  warmer,  and  the 
animal  appeared  to  suffer  slightly  from  intestinal  pain.  In  view  of 
producing  counter  irritation,  I  applied  mustard,  liquified,  to  the 
throat  and  abdomen. 

During  the  day  the  excremental  discharges  were  very  profuse, 
and  emitted  an  intolerable  stench ;  towards  night  an  attempt  was 
made  to  drench  the  animal  with  a  pint  of  port  wine,  which  was  at- 
tended with  success,  the  constriction  at  the  upper  pai't  of  the 
oesophagus  being  somewhat  relaxed. 

On  the  following  day  the  discharges  were  less  frequent,  and  the 
patient  appeared  much  better;  he  managed  to  swallow  some  flour 
gruel,  and  was  again  drenched  Avith  a  pint  of  port  wine. 

The  above  comprises  the  whole  of  the  medical  treatment.  By 
means  of  good  nursing,  &c.,  the  animal  so  far  recovered  as  to  be 
able  to  resume  work  after  a  period  of  twelve  days  from  the  time  of 
the  accident. 

For  the  benefit  of  the  reader  I  would  say  that,  "nature,  who  is 
ever  busy  by  the  silent  operation  of  her  own  forces,"  did  more  for 
the  restoration  of  this  animal  from  the  effects  of  a  well  known  poison, 
than  the  medicinal  agents  which  were  used ;  and  I  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  enter  my  protest  against  the  orthodox  method  of  treating 
cases  of  this  kind,  which  contemplates  the  use  of  large  doses  of  the 
hydrated peroxide  of  iron,  which,  unless  it  be  expelled  from  the  sys- 
tem by  the  administration  of  active  purgatives,  is  as  destructive  as 
arsenic — the  original  poison. 


FUNGUS  HiEMATODES  OF  THE  PENIS. 

Preliminary. — Fungus  is  a  term  used  in  morbid  anatomy,  to  ex- 
press any  luxuriant  formation  of  flesh  in  the  shape  of  a  soft  excres- 
cence. Jlcemaiodes  is  derived  from  the  Greek  language,  and  signifies 
bloody  cippeartQice.  In  plain  English,  Fungus  Haematodes  is  a  lux- 
uriant formation  in,  or  on,  the  soft  parts  of  the  body,  presenting  a 
bloody  appearance — the  bleeding  fungus. 

The  ancient  writers  describe  this  disease  as  a  species  of  soft  can- 
cer or  medullary — soft — sarcoma  (a  fleshy  excrescence),  and  the  prob- 
ability is,  that  it  is  a  cancerous  affection,  for  I  have  several  times 
removed  excrescences  of  this  character,  and  they  invariably  re-formed 
and  acquired  considerable  magnitude,  even  although  the  most  scien- 
tific remedies  were  daily  used  for  the  prevention  of  their  after-devel- 
opment. 

The  modus  operandi  of  the  development  of  those  kind  of  tumors 
is  as  follows :  They  commence  with  a  soft  enlargement,  or  tumor,  on 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  113 

the  various  tissues  of  the  body ;  for  example,  in  the  region  of  the 
eyes,  testicles,  penis,  extremities,  and  breast;  the  tumor  becomes 
elastic  and  painful ;  in  form  it  is  irregular,  having  innumerable  con- 
vexities and  concavities,  bulging  out  in  various  directions  into  an 
irregular  mass  of  morbid  production,  and  from  the  surface  of  which 
blood  often  exudes. 

The  above  brief  description  of  the  nature  and  pathology  of  the 
disease,  is  offered  as  merely  explanatory,  for  the  benefit  of  a  large 
proportion  of  readers  who  are  not  supposed  to  be  versed  in  the  tech- 
nicalities of  the  schools  of  medicine. 

The  following  case  will  show  the  mode  of  operation  : 

History  of  the  Case. — The  subject,  a  bay  gelding,  aged  twelve 
years,  of  the  sanguine  temperament.  For  six  montlis  it  was  noticed 
that  he  did  not  urinate  freely  (a  mechanical  difficulty),  and  in  view 
of  treating  a,  supposed  disease  of  the  kidneys,  some  person  prescribed 
the  usual  diuretics,  nitre  and  rosin,  which  did  the  patient  more  harm 
than  good,  for  he  soon  passed  bloody  urine  ;  the  owner  then  sought 
the  advice  of  another  person,  expected  to  know  something  about  the 
diseases  of  horses,  who  died,  to  the  amount  of  a  large  bucket  full, 
and  gave  daily  doses  of  medicine,  all  to  no  purpose ;  for  the  horse 
daily  grew  worse,  urinated  with  much  difficulty,  and  instead  of  the 
urine  being  voided  in  the  usual  continuous,  single  stream,  it  described 
a  backward  ciu'rent  (wetting  the  hind  legs),  of  various  streams,  as  if 
coming  from  the  perforated  miizzle  of  a  watering  pot. 

This  was  the  condition  of  the  horse  at  the  time  of  my  first  visit. 
I  found  a  pin  in  his  neck,  where  *'  old  LanceV  had  bled  him,  and  a 
bottle  of  "cure  all"  at  his  side.  An  examination  of  the  penis  re- 
vealed the  presence  of  a  fungus  tumor  on  the  glans-penis ;  this  I 
proposed  to  remove,  and  the  owner  of  the  animal  consented. 

Operation  for  the  Removal  of  the  Tumor. — The  horse  was 
cast  by  means  of  the  hobbles,  and  when  fully  under  the  influence  of 
chloroform,  the  penis  was  drawn  from  its  sheath,  exposing  a  tumor 
of  about  half  the  bulk  of  a  man's  fist ;  it  was  attached  to  the  head 
of  the  penis,  and  to  the  surface  of  the  urethral  outlet.  By  careful 
dissection,  the  whole  of  the  morbid  production  was  removed  without 
much  loss  of  blood.     Thus  ended  the  difficulty. 


WORMS. 

Worms  are  usually  the  result  of  a  deranged  condition  of  the  diges- 
tive organs ;  the  usual  symptoms  are,  a  voracious  appetite ;  loss  of 
flesh,  and  a  general  unthrifty  condition,  accompanied  often  by  a  dry, 
irritable  cough ;  the  excrement  is  usually  slimy,  and  the  anus  is  often 
the  seat  of  a  morbid  secretion. 

Treatment. — It  was  customary  in  former  times  to  give  powerful 
vermifuges  for  the  expulsion  of  the  parasites ;  but  the  most  rational 
method  is  to  impart  tone  to  the  digestive  function  and  organs,  in  the 
use  of  tonics,  stimulants,  and  alteratives.  See  article  on  Bots.  or 
use  the  American  Magnetic  Horse  Powders. 
8 


Ill  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 


DIPTHERIA. 

Diptlieria  among  horses  is  not  a  very  common  malady,  yet  it  does 
sometimes  occur,  as  the  sequel  of  suppurative  laryngitis.  It  is  a 
very  dangerous  aftection,  from- the  fact  that  the  exudation  and  m.or- 
bid  material  generates  Avithiu  the  respiratory  passages. 

In  view  of  furnishing  the  reader  some  relialDle  information  on  this 
subject,  I  here  introduce  a  case,  as  recorded  in  my  note  book. 

The  subject  is  an  entire  colt,  aged  four  years,  son  of  the  celebrated 
Patchen,  now  owned  by  J.  MePherson,  of  Chicago,  and  valued  at 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  1862,  I  was  requested  to  proceed  to 
the  "  Cattle  Pens"  and  examine  the  above  named  horse,  the  messen- 
ger informing  me  that  the  animal  was  "  choking  to  death."  On  ar- 
rival I  found  the  animal  in  a  dangerous  condition  ;  he  appeared  to 
be  gasping  for  breath  ;  a  loud  stertorous  noise,  which  could  be  heard 
at  some  distance,  indicated  the  nature  of  the  difficulty  as  depending 
on  obstruction  within  the  larynx ;  the  pulse  at  the  angle  of  the  jaw 
was  very  indistinct;  both  pupils  were  dilated  or  amaurotic ;  the 
extremities  and  external  surface  of  the  body  were  deathly  cold  ;  the 
tongue  and  visible  mucous  surfaces  were  livid,  indicating  speedy 
death.  Once  in  a  while  the  animal  would  be  seized  with  a  convul- 
sive or  spasmodic  fit  of  coughing,  which  every  time  seemed  to 
threaten  his  existence  ;  in  these  fits  of  coughing,  he  passed  from  his 
nostrils  a  sort  of  cheesy  matter,  which  seemed  to  be  mixed  up  with 
a  diptherial  exudation  and  yellow  matter,  and  from  the  mouth  con- 
stantly streamed  a  frothy  and  glairy  discharge. 

Under  the  above  circumstances,  I  considered  that  the  atteraj>t  to 
administer  medicine  would  only  be  trifling  with  the  life  of  the  patient ; 
hence,  I  decided  to  perform  the  operation  of  tracheotomy,  which 
was  done  in  the  following  manner: 

Having  secured  the  survices  of  a  couple  of  assistants,  the  horse 
was  led  to  a  convenient  spot  in  the  centre  of  the  stable.  I  then 
commenced  an  incision  over  the  central  part  of  the  trachea  or  wind- 
pipe, about  eight  inches  below  the  angle  of  the  jaw.  The  animal 
did  not  appear  to  like  this  sort  of  treatment,  and  seemed  disposed  to 
resist  and  give  battle,  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  put  a  twitch  on  the 
point  of  his  nose.  Plaving  laid  bare  the  trachea,  I  punctured  it,  and 
by  means  of  a  probe-pointed  bistoury  dissected  out  a  circular  piece, 
corresponding  to  the  calibre  of  the  tracheotomy  tube.  At  this  mo- 
ment the  horse  experienced  immediate  relief  and  oflered  no  further 
resistance.  The  tube  was  then  inserted  and  secured  to  the  neck  by 
means  of  elastic  tape,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes  the  alarm- 
ing symptoms  had  entirely  subsided. 

I  then  applied  a  counter-irritant  to  the  region  of  the  throat, 
(larynx),  composed  of  cod-liver  oil,  spirits  of  ammonia  and  camphor, 
ordered  a  "  bran-mash,"  and  secured  the  services  of  a  faithful  watch- 
man. The  operation  was  performed  at  night,  guided  by  the  uncer- 
tain rays  of  a  couple  of  dilapidated  stable  lanterns,  yet  luckily  "all 
is  well  that  ends  well ;"  my  patient  came  out  all  right. 

For  several  days  he  had  a  very  copious  discharge  from  both  nos- 
trils, and  also  from  the  tracheal  orifice,  so  that  the  tracheotomy  tube 


PECULIAR   TO   HORSES.  115 

had  to  be  removed  and  cleansed  several  times  during  the  day  and 
night.  Four  days  after  the  operation,  the  tube  accidentally  slipped 
out  of  the  trachea,  and  on  my  arrival  in  the  morning  I  found  that  air 
from  the  lungs  had  inflated  the  whole  cellular  tissue  of  the  neck,  from 
head  to  breast,  so  that  about  these  parts  he  appeared  like  a  juvenile 
elephant. 

I  reinserted  the  tube,  and  rubbed  the  neck  with  the  liniment  al- 
ready in  use,  and  gave  a  dose  of  ammonia  in  water,  wuth  some  fluid 
extract  of  prickly  ash  bark. 

On  the  fifth  day  after  the  operation,  I  removed  the  tracheotomy 
tube  and  dispensed  with  it,  leaving  the  animal  to  breathe  through 
the  orifice,  he  still  being  unable  to  breathe  through  the  nostrils. 

During  this  day  and  the  sixth,  a  very  copious  discharge  from  the 
nostrils,  as  well  as  the  tracheal  artificial  orifice,  occurred,  much  of 
the  same  resembling  that  attending  diptheria.  The  animal  now  be- 
gan to  show  symptoms  of  dropsy,  in  the  region  of  the  breast,  belly, 
sheath  and  legs,  for  which  I  prescribed  sweet  spirits  of  nitre,  com- 
bined with  my  favorite  tonic  (golden  seal.)  The  dropsical  SAvelling 
at  the  point  of  the  sternum  being  vei'y  large,  I  there  introduced  a 
seton  smeared  with  olive  oil  and  spirits  of  hartshorn,  which  finally 
had  a  very  good  effect ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  by  means 
of  this  and  slight  scarifications,  the  swelling  had  entirely  subsided, 
together  with  the  other  droi)sical  symptoms. 

From  day  to  day  the  patient  gradually  improved.  I  sutured  the 
wound  made  in  opening  the  trachea,  on  the  tenth  day  after  the  oper- 
ation, and  now,  at  the  time  of  writing  this  article,  (fifteen  days  from 
*>he  time  of  my  first  visit)  there  is  a  slight  discharge  from  the  nos- 
trils, also  from  between  the  stitches  taken  to  close  the  wound  in  the 
oeck,  neither  of  which  am  I  in  a  hurry  to  arrest,  as  I  consider  them 
*'avorable  symptoms. 

The  horse  has  now  a  good  appetite,  is  in  fine  spirits,  lays  down  at 
night,  and  is  out  of  all  danger;  and  what  is  most  remarkable,  does 
not  appear  to  have  lost  much  flesh.  This  is  probably  owing  to  the 
fact,  that  the  horse  had  a  fine  vital  temperament,  which  sustained 
him  through  the  trial  of  his  malady,  and  during  the  same  he  got  no 
medicine  of  a  prostrating  character,  my  aim  being  to  keep  the  horse 
alive  while  the  disease  run  its  course. 

Kemakks  on  the  Case. — I  hope  the  reader  will  not  infer  that 
every  case  of  diptheria  requires  the  above  treatment ;  this,  like  every 
other  disease,  must  be  treated  according  to  its  indications,  and  it  is 
very  rare  that  the  disease  assumes  the  complex  form  which  charac- 
terized this  unusual  affection. 


VETERINARY  SCIENCE  — HOW  TO  INAUGURATE  IT 
IN  THE  U.  S.  ARMY. 

The  necesssity  which  now  exists  for  the  services  of  veterinary 
surgeons  in  the  U.  S.  army,  needs  no  argument  on  the  part  of  the 
author  of  this  work.  Every  man  possessing  the  least  particle  of 
humanity  for  that  much-abused  class  of  animals  known  as  "  army 


116  TREATMENT   OF  DISEASES 

horses,''''  and  being  conversant  with  the  facts  in  relation  to  the  out- 
rageous treatment  they  receive,  must  feel  that  a  reform  is  most  sadly 
needed. 

A  short  time  ago  I  was  requested  by  a  government  oiScer  to  pre- 
sent a  feasible  plan  for  making  the  knowledge  I  possess  available. 
The  following  was  my  answer: 

I  am  sorry  to  have  to  inform  you  that  up  to  the  present  period 
there  exists  no  law  authorizing  the  employment  of  competent  vete- 
rinary surgeons  ;  therefore,  any  rational  plan  calculated  to  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  army  horses,  or  to  prevent  the  many  unnecessary 
cases  of  disease  and  premature  death  which  are  now  constantly  oc- 
curring, or  to  guard  against  the  great  pecuniary  losses  which  the 
Government  and  people  of  this  country  are  now  compelled  to  sub- 
mit to  in  the  condemnation  and  forced  sales  of  deteriorated  horses, 
cannot,  as  I  understand  the  subject,  be  considered  by  the  "powers 
that  be"  until  Congi-ess  shall  legislate  upon  the  subject.  I  now 
propose  to  inform  you  how  I  shall  render  the  knowledge  I  possess 
available. 

In  the  first  place,  I  should  follow  the  systems  of  instruction  and 
the  organizations  of  the  veterinary  schools  of  London,  Edinburg, 
Alfort  and  Saumeer,  and  prepare  suitable  text-books,  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  a  nation,  of  a  people,  who  have  never  given  the  subject 
that  attention  which  its  importance  demands. 

In  the  selection  of  pupils  I  should  favor  the  excellent  plan  pro- 
posed by  Gen.  McClellan,  which  is  as  follows  :  "  The  pupils  for  the 
veterinai'y  school  might  be  selected  from  among  the  best  recruits ; 
indeed,  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  advantages  of  such  an  institu- 
tion would  induce  excellent  men  to  enlist  for  the  purpose  of  availing 
themselves  of  its  benefits.  Should  such  be  found  to  be  the  results, 
it  would  be  well  to  require  them  to  enlist  for  longer  than  the  usual 
time,  as  a  compensation  for  the  time  spent  at  the  school,"  Cavalry 
ofBcers,  farriers,  or  blacksmiths,  should  be  permitted  to  attend  lec- 
tures on  anatomy,  physiology,  and  the  obvious  diseases  and  lame- 
nesses of  horses. 

In  cases  of  emergency,  a  competent  veterinarian  should  be  em- 
ployed in  each  cavalry  regiment,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  select 
an  intelligent  farrier  from  each  company,  and  instruct  such  person, 
in  a  brief  and  practical  manner,  on  the  management  of  cavalry 
horses  in  camps,  the  prevention  of  diseases,  and  the  most  rational 
method  of  treating  diseases  incident  to  camp  life. 

Should  it  be  found  impossible  to  secure  the  services  of  a  sufficient 
number  of  competent  veterinarians  for  the  above  purpose,  let  those 
who  have  shown  themselves  qualified,  by  an  examination  before  a 
medical  board,  march  from  camp  to  camp,  give  instructions,  see  that 
the  sick  and  disabled  are  separated  from  healthy  animals,  and  that 
the  former  be  placed  in  a  covered  hospital,  and  then  issue  special 
regulations  for  the  use  of  mounted  troops  in  garrison  and  the  field, 
for  the  purpose  of  guarding  against  the  consequences  of  ignorance 
and  abuse  of  the  animal  machine. 

It  would  be  advisable  to  establish  a  veterinary  professorship  at 
West  Point,  and  there  locate  the  JSTational  School.  The  Govern- 
ment has  there  a  very  fine  French  model  of  the  horse,  a  skeleton,  and 


PECULIAK   TO  nOKSES.  117 

various  preparations  of  morbid  anatomy,  &c.,  &c.,  which,  together 
with  other  inaterial  available,  will  fui-nish  all  that  is  necessary  for 
the  purposes  of  veterinary  tuition.  It  would  also  be  advisable  for 
the  Chief  Veterinary  Surgeon  to  issue  to  his  subordinates  such 
orders  as  shall  secure  proper  sanitary  regulations  in  camp.  The 
horses  should  be  as  well  cared  for  as  the  troops,  for  in  cavalry  and 
artillery  service,  the  success  of  a  campaign,  for  atta,ck  and  defense 
depends  much  on  the  health  and  efficiency  of  the  horses.  It  should 
be  the  business  of  some  members  of  the  veterinary  corps  to  station 
themselves  at  accessible  pouits,  and  there  erect  temporary  hospitals 
for  the  reception  of  sick  and  lame  horses,  where  the  latter  shall  re- 
ceive the  benefits  of  a  rational  system  of  medication  and  nursing, 
whereby,  in  their  restoration  to  usefulness,  many  millions  of  dollars 
might  be  saved  to  the  Government  in  a  short  time.  I  contend  that 
the  condemnation  and  ruinous  sale  of  sick  and  lame  horses  is  a  wan- 
ton waste  of  property;  and  it  would  be  just  as  rational,  if  rational 
at  all,  to  sacrifice,  neglect  or  abandon  sick  or  disabled  soldiers,  sim- 
ply because  they  are  not  in  fit  condition  for  present  duty. 

It  has  been  f^uggested  that  "  the  erection  of  hospitals  for  sick 
horses  loill  cost  too  much.''''  This  is  a  miserable  subterfuge,  ana 
bears  comparison  Avith  the  insane  policy  of  Farmer  Neverthink,  who 
contended  that  when  corn  was  sold  at  a  high  price  and  cost  consid- 
erable money  to  plant  it,  it  was  much  cheaper  to  starve  to  death. 

Th^  following  paragraph  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  necessity  which 
now  exists  for  the  services  of  veterinary  surgeons : 

"A  short  time  ago,  1,185  condemned  horses  were  sold  under  the 
hammer,  by  the  Quartermaster  at  Washington.  They  brought 
prices  ranging  from  820  to  ^45.  These  animals  had  been  in  service 
only  about  six  or  eight  weeks,  and  cost  the  Government,  originally, 
from  $115  to  ;Sl28,  and  it  is  asserted  that  another  sacrifice^  in  the 
same  way,  was  to  be  made  in  the  course  of  a  few  days !  In  a  trans- 
action of  this  kind  the  Government  loses,  in  the  short  space  of  a  few 
weeks,  over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  sum  would  secure 
the  services  of  a  most  efficient  veterinary  corps,  like  that  now  at- 
tached to  the  British  or  French  armies,  for  a  period  of  a  year  or 
more  ;  and  by  such  an  arrangement  over  seventy  per  cent,  of  the 
sick  and  disabled  animals  might  in  a  short  time  be  rendered  fit  for 
the  service." 


THE  BITE  OR  STING  OF  VENOMOUS  FLIES  AND 
REPTILES. 

In  Texas,  and  in  some  of  the  warmer  regions  of  this  country, 
horses  suffer  intensely  from  the  sting  or  bite  of  winged  insects  and 
Venomous  reptiles.  The  best  remedy,  in  view  of  counteracting  the 
effects  of  the  same,  is,  plantain  {plumbago  major.)  A  small  quan- 
tity of  the  fluid  extract  of  plantain  should  be  applied  to  the  affected 
part,  and  the  afflicted  animal  should  be  drenched  daily  with  two 
ounces  of  the  same. 

The  American  Magnetic  Lotion  is  an  excellent  remedy  as  a  local 
application. 


118  '  TEEATMJSNT   OF   DISEASES 


THUMPS. 


This  is  a  term  applied  by  some  persons  to  a  disease  known  to  the 
members  of  our  profession  as  Palpitation  of  the  Heart.  It  is  not  al- 
ways an  organic  affection  of  the  heart,  but  is  often  symptomatic,  or 
sympathetic. 

Thumps,  or  Palpitation  of  the  Heart,  is  easily  discovered  by 
placing  the  hand  on  the  region  of  the  chest,  just  beneath  the  shoul- 
der ;   the  thumps  or  palpitations  are  then  distinctly  felt. 

Should  the  animal  be  the  subject  of  any  well-marked  disease,  and 
palpitation  accompany  it,  I  should  not  feel  alarmed  about  the  palpi- 
tation, but  proceed  to  treat  the  disease.  In  the  restoration  of  the 
animal  to  health  the  palpitation  would  cease. 

Thumps,  or  palpitation,  often  occurs  in  consequence  of  spasm  of 
the  diaphragm,  or  raidriif  ^  when  confined  to  this  muscle,  the  palpi- 
tation is  noticed  to  occur  at  the  flanks  instead  of  in  the  region  of 
the  chest,  and  the  inference  is  that  the  disease  is  not  organic,  but  is 
of  nervous  origin  ;  hence,  in  such  cases  I  recommend  the  use  of 
antispasmodics.  The  best  anti-spasmodic  drench  that  I  know  of,  is 
composed  as  follows  : 

Fluid  Extract  of  Indian  Hemp 2  ounces. 

Powdered  AsaftEtida 1  scruple. 

Syrup  of  Garlic 4  ounces. 

Mix.     Dose  :  one  ounce  night  and  morning. 

The  whole  region  of  the  spine  should  be  anointed  once  daily,  with 
some  stimulating  liniment.  The  American  Magnetic  Liniment  is  the 
best  preparation  I  know  of  for  the  purpose. 

Occasionally,  thumps  or  palpitation,  is  the  result  of  dropsy  of  the 
brain.  When  this  happens  to  be  the  fact,  a  cure  is  almost  impossi- 
ble ;  yet  if  the  animal  be  a  valuable  one,  I  should  try  ray  best  to 
save  his  life.  The  only  reliable  agent  in  a  case  of  this  character,  is 
iodide  of  potass,  twenty  grains  of  which  should  be  administered, 
twice  daily,  in  the  form  of  a  drench. 


WARBLES. 

Warbles  are  a  kind  of  local  abscess  occurring  in  the  region  of 
the  back,  induced  by  undue  or  unequal  pressure  from  the  saddle. 
When  matter  can  be  detected  in  them,  they  should  be  opened  and 
dressed  with  compound  tincture  of  aloes  and  myrrh.  If  this  cannot 
be  obtained,  apply  the  American  Magnetic  Lotion. 


ROARING  IN  HORSES. 

Roaring  is  usually  the  result  of  structural  alterations  within  the 
larynx  or  upper  part  of  the  windpipe  bordering  on  the  trachea.  In 
mild  cases  of  roaring,  we  usually  find  a  thickened  state  of  the  mem- 


PECULIAR    TO    nOKSES.  119 

brane  lining  the  npper  portion  of  tlie  respiratory  passage  ;  and  when 
roaring  is  occasioned  by  thickening  of  this  membrane,  its  degree 
depends  on  the  ratio  of  decrease  in  tlie  calibre  of  the  tube  breathed 
through. 

Roaring  is  a  very  aristocratic  disease.  Many  of  the  very  best  and 
fastest  horses  in  England  were,  and  now  are,  notorious  roarers.  Fly- 
ing Childers,  as  fast  a  horse  as  ever  wore  liorse  shoes,  was  one  of 
the  worst  roarers  ever  known.  The  story  runs,  that  when  Childers 
was  at  full  speed,  liis  roaring  resembled  juvenile  thunder! — he  could 
be  heard  when  distant  haif  a  mile ! 

The  worst  fnrm  of  roaring  (as  paddy  says)  is  ifhiatUng.  This  is 
the  sharp,  shrill  note,  not  only  occasioned  by  the  thickening  of  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  primary  passages  of  respiration,  but  by  alter- 
ations in  the  form  and  structure  of  the  larynx — the  larynx  being,  in 
popular  language,  known  as  the  "  voice  box." 

Roaring  is  more  prevalent  among  stallions  than  mares  and  geld- 
ings ;  and  the  kind  of  horse  most  subject  to  it  is  the  one  having  a 
thick,  chunky  neck,  and  having  the  angles  of  the  jaws  in  very  close 
proximity  with  the  neck. 

Roaring,  scarcely,  if  ever,  admits  of  a  radical  cure,  and  when  of 
hereditary  or  congenital  origin,  a  cure  is  impossible.  A  roarer  should 
never  be  encumbered  with  a  check-rein,  for  it  has  the  effect  of  caus- 
ing undue  pressure  on  the  larynx,  and  thus  augments  the  difficulty. 

Roaring  can,  however,  be  relieved  by  an  operation  known  as 
tracheotomy,  which  is  performed  at  a  point  a  few  inches  below  the 
larynx. 

At  a  late  meeting  of  the  Imperial  and  Central  Society  of  Veteri- 
nary Medicine,  M.  Leblanc  read  a  communication  on  tracheotomy 
which  was  performed  on  a  carriage  horse.  "  The  operation  had  been 
performed  because  the  horse  was  a  severe  roarer,  and  he  wore  the 
tube  eighteen  years  and  a  half,  doing  fast  work  all  the  time.  The 
animal  was  destroyed  at  t^venty-three  years  of  age,  the  owner  not 
desiring  to  make  further  use  of  him,  nor  to  sell  him.  Since  the  op- 
eration, Leblanc  had  not  observed  any  change  in  the  horse,  except 
a  depression  of  the  bones  of  the  face.  After  death,  the  larynx  was 
found  very  narrow,  the  mucous  membrane  and  sub-mucous  cellular 
tissues  were  thickened,  the  epiglottis  deformed,  very  obtuse,  and 
averted  at  its  free  margin.  The  change  in  the  larynx  was  the  orig- 
inal cause  of  roaring.  The  depression  of  the  bones  of  the  face  was 
connected  with  constriction  of  the  nasal  chambers,  and  was  evidently 
secondary  to  the  change  in  the  course  of  the  air  in  the  process  of 
respiration.  The  parts  of  the  trachea  in  contact  with  the  tube  had 
undergone  a  transformation  into  very  hard  tissue,  which  replaced 
both  mucous  membrane  and  cartilaginous  tissue.  It  filled  the  tracliea 
above  the  point  where  the  tube  had  been  introduced,  and,  intermixed 
with  this  firm,  fibrous  deposit,  was  cartilaginous  and  osseous  tissue, 
whicli  oflbred  great  resistance  to  the  scalpel." 

Roaring,  thick  wind,  whistling,  &c.,  are  often  the  sequel  of  stran- 
gled infiuonza,  laryngitis,  and  other  affections  of  the  respiratory  pas- 
sages, and  hence  may  have  an  accidental  oi'igin;  in  such  cases  we 
may  entertain  a  hope  of  doing  some  good  by  means  of  medicinal 
agents  and  counter-irritants. 


120  TKEATMENT   OF  DISEASES  f 

The  medicines  which  have  proved  most  successful  in  my  practice 
are  as  follows : 

Iodide  of  Potass 4  ounces. 

Fluid  Extract  of  Stillingia 1  pound. 

Dose :  two  ounces  daily,  in  the  form  of  a  drench. 

The  region  of  the  throat  should  be  rubbed  daily  with  a  portion  of 
the  following : 

Spirits  of  Camphor 6  ounces. 

Diluted  Acet.  Acid 12       " 

Mix. 


SURFEIT. 

Surfeit  somewhat  resembles  the  nettle-rash  of  children.  Tumors, 
varying  in  size,  suddenly  appear  in  various  parts  of  the  body  and 
limbs ;  they  create  an  intolerable  itching  sensation,  and  when  punc- 
tured, a  watery  fluid  escapes. 

Surfeit  is  usually  the  result  of  derangement  of  the  digestive 
organs. 

Treatment. — Make  a  sloppy  bran-mash  and  add  to  it  one  ounce 
of  powdered  podophyllum,  and  four  drachms  of  powdered  nitre  ;  in 
short,  any  medicine  of  an  alterative  character  is  indicated,  and  I 
know  of  no  better  alterative  than  that  manufactured  by  Lord  & 
Smith,  of  Chicago,  known  as  the  American  Magnetic  Horse  Pow- 
ders. Their  Magnetic  Lotion  is  also  a  suitable  external  application, 
for  this  disease.  A  small  portion  of  it  should  be  applied  twice  daily, 
by  means  of  a  sponge. 


lERYSIPELAS. 

Erysipelas  is  known  by  the  eruption  of  inflammatory,  nodulous 
swellings,  usually  appearing  about  the  head  and  limbs.  The  swell- 
ings are  generally  hard,  hot,  and  painful ;  sometimes  they  become 
purple  and  spotted,  and  sloughings  supervene.  The  disease  often 
occurs  in  consequence  of  an  impoverished  state  of  the  blood. 

Treatment. — Pure  air  and  nutritive  food  are  indicated,  and  the 
medicinal  treatment  is  the  same  as  for  surfeit. 


ON  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM  OF  THE  HORSE. 

"What  provokes  Muscular  Action.  The  influence  which  pro- 
vokes muscular  action  is  brought  to  them  by  the  nervous  threads  or 
filaments — termed  nerve  threads.  These  are  distributed  amongst  the 
muscular  fibres  in  all  parts  of  tho  body  ;  and  on  the  external  sur- 
face of  the  body  and  extremities  they  are  very  minute  and  delicate, 
which  accounts  for  the  sensitive  condition  of  the  skin,  nose,  feet  and 
ears  of  the  horse.     A  knowledge  of  these  facts  should  operate  to 


PECULIAR   TO   HOKSES.  121 

prevent  much  barbarity  which  is  even  now  unknowingly  applied. 
For  example,  a  horse  lame  is  brought  to  a  blacksmith,  in  view  of  dis- 
covering the  seat  of  lameness.  The  blacksmith,  acting  on  the  aph- 
orism of  "  every  man  to  his  trade,"  sees  nothing  inside  or  outside  of 
the  foot — which  happen  to  be  the  geographical  boundaries  of  his 
craftsman  knowledge  of  equine  diseases ;  he  applies  a  pair  of  pin- 
cers, wielded  by  strong,  muscular  arms,  perhaps  supposing  that  the 
whole  foot  is  as  insensible  as  the  generous  slices  which  he  has  been 
accustomed  to  remove  from  the  crust  and  sole.  The  effect  of  the 
mechanical  force  employed  is  often  to  create  lameness  in  a  region, 
perhaps,  where  it  never  existed ;  and  the  same  is  true  as  regards 
many  other  supposed  innocent  barbarities  which  the  horse  is  com- 
pelled to  submit  to. 

Nerve  TiiKEAns.  Nerve  threads  are  minute  tubes  consisting  of 
very  delicate  fiSms  capable  of  transmitting  from  the  great  galvanic 
battery — the  brain — its  mandates  of  intelligence,  SorLO  of  these 
threads,  or  tubes,  enter  the  muscles  as  large  branches,  and  then  ram- 
ify and  are  distribued  in  all  directions  through  the  muscular  sub- 
stance. 

Neeve  Branches.  The  nerve  branches  are  bundles  of  distinct 
tubules,  bound  together  hi  a  common  sheath,  yet  to  the  naked  eye 
they  appear  as  a  common  thread. 

Nerve  Tubules.  The  nerve  tubules  are  kept  distinct  from  each 
other,  or  isolated,  from  the  fact  that  their  function  is  the  conveyance 
of  distinct  impressions  to  particular  parts  of  the  animal  economy. 

The  Spinal  Coed.  The  spinal  cord  is  carefully  invested  in  its 
bony  canal  by  membranes  similar  to  those  which  enclose  the  brain. 
The  spinal  cord,  like  the  brain,  is  composed  of  two  apparently  dif- 
ferent substances,  one  being  white,  which  is  termed  medullary  •  the 
other  of  a  gray  color,  termed  cineritious. 

The  white  substance  of  the  brain  contained  in  the  nerve  cells,  is  a 
combination  of  fat,  phosphorus  and  water. 

Two  ounces  of  every  pound  of  nerve  substance  is  albumen.  Al- 
bumen is  a  substance  similar  to  the  white  of  an  Ggg. 

Every  pound  of  nerve  substance  contains  eleven  ounces  of  water, 
one-third  of  an  ounce  of  phosphorus  and  one  ounce  of  fat. 

The  gray  color  of  the  brain  is  due  to  the  presence  of  a  vast  num- 
ber of  minixte  blood  vessels. 

Each  nerve  which  is  sent  out  from  the  spinal  cord,  or  marrow, 
has  a  double  root  or  origin ;  the  outer  one  distributes  itself  to  the 
superficial  or  external  parts  of  the  body  ;  the  inner  branch  furnishes 
nerves  to  the  deeper  seated  tissues  of  the  body. 

Sentient  and  Motor  Nerves.  The  skin,  or  external  atirface  of 
the  body,  is  abundantly  supplied  with  what  are  known  as  the  ex- 
tremities or  terminations  of  the  sentient  nerves ;  and  most  of  the 
nerves  of  the  body  consist  of  an  admixture  of  two  diffei'ent  kinds  of 
nerves  ;  hence,  we  have  motor  as  well  as  sensitive. 

The  sentient  nerves  enable  the  animal  to  acquire  information  of 
the  external  world,  as  to  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere,  &c. 

All  the  outer  extremities  of  the  sentient  nerves  are  associated  with 
nerve  cells  and  capillary  blood  vessels. 

Sentient  impressions  are  vital  changes  connected  with  the  destruc- 
tion of  nerve  substance  which  has  to  be  replaced  through  the  ordin- 


122  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES 

ary  course  of  milvition;  hence,  all  the  organs  of  sensation  must  be 
abundantly  supplied  with  blood.  The  blood  furnished  to  the  nerve 
substance  carries  to  it  oxygen,  and  this  oxygen  effects  the  decompo- 
sition on  which  the  nerve  force  depends  for  its  integrity.  Every 
thought,  muscular  action,  pulsation,  and  act  of  respiration  occasions 
nerve  waste  or  -decomposition.  Respiration  rather  augments  oxy- 
gen than  diminishes,  yet  a  certain  amount  of  nerve  waste  occurs  even 
in  the  physio-fngical  function  of  the  lungs. 

Nerve  waste  is  peculiarly  rapid  diu'ing  the  employment  of  nerve 
force,  so  that  a  horse  of  the  nervous  temperament — when  perform- 
infT  feats  of  speed — will  become  sooner  exhausted  than  another  of 
the  lymphatic  temperament,  whose  nervous  system  is  not  so  deli- 
cately organized.  The  sura  and  substance  of  the  matter  is,  that 
men  and  horses  of  the  nervous  temperament  wear  out,  as  the  say- 
ing is,  very  fast. 

The  spinal  cord  receives  impressions  from  the  external  regions  of 
the  body,  and  emits  motor  force.  For  example,  if  we  rudely  handle 
an  anicnal,  the  act  occasions  combative  muscular  movements. 

Some  of  the  movements  or  evolutions  carried  on  by  the  spinal 
cord  are  involuntary,  and  therefore  may  be  considered  as  uncon- 
scious, simply  because  they  occur  when  will  and  sensation  are 
suspended,  dm-ing  the  time  when  sleep  prevails  ;  therefore  it  may 
be  inferred  that  the  spinal  cord  takes  charge  of  various  operations 
of  the  body,  which  would  be  less  perfectly  performed  if  left  to  the 
ordinary  action  of  voluntary  muscular  and  nervous  actions. 

Many  of  the  movements  effected  under  the  influence  of  the  brain 
and  spinal  marrow,  are  instinctive,  and  in  no  way  connected  with 
the  will.  For  example,  a  floating  foreign  body  in  the  air  approaches 
the  eye  of  a  man  or  horse,  and  ere  either  one  knows  anything  about 
it,  the  eyelids  are  instantaneously  closed  (involuntarily,  of  course)  ; 
hence,  such  muscular  movements  are  in  no  way  connected  with  the 
will. 

All  animals  that  possess  any  trace  of  a  cerebrum,  or  brain  proper, 
are  capable  of  performing  some  kind  of  intellectual  operation. 

Mind.  The  results  that  are  worked  out  through  the  activity  of 
the  brain  are  termed  the  "mind."  Horses  have  a  brain,  hence  must 
think  and  reason ;  their  manifestations  of  mind  not  differing  from 
that  of  man,  only  in  degree. 


ON  THE  TREATMENT  OF  DISEASE. 

During  the  past  fifty  years  much  of  the  live  stock  of  this  country 
has  been  most  outrageously  over- doctored  and  over-dosed,  many 
people  supposing  that,  by  converting  a  sick  horse's  stomach  into  a 
sort  of  apothecary's  shop  and  grocery  store,  the  sooner  would  he 
get  well,  when  the  very  reverse  is  the  case ;  for  I  am  satisfied  from 
long  experience,  and  having  been  a  careful  observer  of  the  effects  of 
medicine  on  the  animal  economy,  that  the  less  drugs  a  sick  horse 
gets,  the  more  likely  is  he  to  get  well. 

For  example,  when  a  large  quantity  of  medicine  is  administered 
to  a  horse,  it  very  frequently  so  disturbs  the  animal  economy  as  to 


PECULIAR   TO    HORSES.  123 

create  a  medicinal  disease  of  a  very  grave  character ;  add  to  this 
the  original  malady,  and  the  reader  will  perceive  that  nature — the 
"  Good  Samaritan" — does  not  have  a  fair  chance.  If  let  alone,  she 
(nature)  is  equal  to  the  task  of  curing  any  curable  disease  ;  but  when 
meddlesome  medication  assails  the  citadel  of  life,  the  forces  of  nature 
being  overpowered,  they  resign  the  living  citadel  to  the  enemy,  and 
death  is  the  result. 

Many  medicines — so  called — such  as  antimony,  hellebore,  strych- 
nia, arsenic,  &c.,  &c.,  when  administered  in  repeated  doses,  accu- 
mulate in  the  system,  are  absorbed,  act  as  depressors  of  vitality, 
and  the  animal  dies,  actually  poisoned  by  the  so-called  medicine. 

After  eighteen  years  of  actual  practice,  I  have  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  business  of  the  physician  is  to  aid  nature,  and 
administer  medicines  of  a  sanative  character,  which  are  calculated 
to  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  vital  forces  while  the  disease  runs 
its  course.  Many  medicines  are  supposed  to  have  a  specific  effect 
on  disease.  I  very  much  doubt  this  proposition,  and  believe  that 
most  of  the  curable  cases  are  self-limited,  and  only  require  the  exhi- 
bition of  some  simple  form  of  medicine,  the  action  of  which  is  alter- 
ative. 

The  effect  of  an  alterative  is  to  change  morbid  action ;  and  it  does 
not  matter  what  species  of  animal  is  afflicted,  the  laws  of  the  animal 
economy  are  uniform,  and  whether  we  prescribe  for  a  man,  horse, 
or  cow,  our  system  of  medication  must,  on  the  principles  of  reason 
and  past  experience,  be  of  a  sanative  character,  calculated  to  pre- 
serve the  integrity  of  the  organism  ;  so  that,  if  any  of  the  readers 
of  this  work  have  sick  animals  in  the  barn,  sheep-fold,  or  hog-pen, 
I  advise  them  to  administer  medicmes  of  an  alterative,  yet  sanative 
character.  Messrs.  Lord  &  Smith,  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  have 
recently  prepared  the  "  best  alterative'''  ever  known  to  science,  con^ 
taining  no  agent  that  can  possibly  have  a  bad  eflfect  on  the  system 
of  any  living  creature,  yet  calculated  to  be  potent  in  the  cure  of  dis- 
ease. The  American  Magnetic  Equine  Powders  can  be  used  for 
almost  all  forms  of  disease  that  do  not  actually  need  the  services  of 
a  veterinary  surgeon.  While  the  late  Gen.  O.  M.  Mitchell  was  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  and  afterwards  under 
Buell  in  Kentucky,  he  ordered  his  division  wagon  master  to  use 
these  powders,  in  all  cases  of  disease  occurring  among  horses  imder 
his  care,  and  the  consequence  was,  that  the  lives  of  many  valuable 
horses  were  saved.  So  in  reference  to  the  Lotion  and  Liniment ; 
they  had  the  same  effect. 

While  in  Kentucky,  almost  all  the  horses  attached  to  General 
Mitchell's  brigade  were  the  subjects  of  grease  and  scratches,  and 
other  cutaneous  affections.  He  was  supplied  with  a  quantity  of  the 
American  Magnetic  Equine  Lotion,  which  soon  had  the  effect  of 
eradicating  the  disease. 

See  advertisement  at  end  of  this  work. 


12i  TREATMENT   OF   DISEASES   TECULIAR    TO    HORSES. 


AGE  OF  HORSES. 

The  age  of  a  horse  may  be  known  by  marks  in  the  front  teeth  and 
tusks 'of  the  under  jaw,  until  he  is  about  eight  years  old,  after  which 
period  it  is  a  matter  of  guess-work ;  yet  those  who  are  experts  can 
tell  very  near  the  exact  age.  There  are  many  circumstances  which 
tend  to  show  whether  a  horse  be  old  or  not.  The  number  of  a 
horse's  teeth  is  forty — twenty-four  grinders,  and  sixteen  others — by 
some  of  which  his  age  may  be  known  up  to  a  certain  period.  Mares 
have  only  thirty-six  teeth,  as  in  them  the  tushes  are  usually  wanting. 
A  few  days  after  birth,  the  colt  puts  forth  two  small  front  teeth  in 
the  upper  and  under  jaws,  and  soon  after  two  more  ;  these  are  called 
nippers.  The  next  four  shortly  afterwards  make  their  appearance. 
The  four  corner  teeth — as  they  are  termed — come  a  few  months  after 
the  last  named.  These  twelve  teetUin  the  front  of  the  mouth  are 
small  and  white,  and  continue  without  much  alteration  until  the  colt 
is  about  two  years  and  a  half  old,  when  he  begins  to  shed  them. 
The  two  teeth  that  first  make  their  appearance  are  the  first  that  are 
lost,  and  are  replaced  by  two  others,  called  horse's  teeth,  considera- 
bly stronger  and  larger  than  those  that  have  made  way  for  them. 
Between  the  third  and  foui-th  year,  the  two  teeth  next  the  first  fall 
out,  and  are  in  like  manner  replaced  by  horse's  teeth.  Between  the 
fourth  and  fifth  year, the  corner  teeth  are  changed  ;  the  tushes  make 
their  appearance.  About  the  fifth  year,  the  horse  is  said  to  have  a 
full  mouth.  After  this  period,  up  to  the  eighth  year,  the  age  of  a 
horse  can,  with  some  degree  of  certainty,  be  known  by  the  cavities 
in  the  teeth,  which  at  first  are  deep,  but  are  gradually,  by  the  pro- 
cess of  mastication,  worn  down,  and  about  the  eighth  year  disappear. 
After  the  fifth  year,  the  above  criterion  of  age  may  be  corroborated 
by  the  grooves  in  the  tushes  of  the  male,  which  are  inside  ;  they  are 
two  in  number.  At  six,  one  of  these  cavities,  viz.,  the  one  next  the* 
grinder,  disappears  ;  at  seven,  the  other  is  considerably  diminished  ; 
at  eight,  is  almost,  but  not  always,  entirely  gone.  After  this  period, 
the  tushes  become  more  blunt  and  round.  The  marks  in  the  upper 
teeth  are  by  some  considered  indicative  of  the  horse's  age ;  those  in 
the  two  front  teeth  disappearing  at  eight,  in  the  two  next  at  ten,  and 
in  the  corner  teeth  at  twelve.  The  marks  in  the  lower  teeth  will 
disappear  about  the  eighth  year. 

As  a  horse  grows  old,  he  generally  turns  more  or  less  gray  ;  the 
cavities  above  the  eyes  become  deeper ;  the  under  lip  falls  ;  the  gums 
shrink  away  from  the  teeth,  giving  them  the  appearance  of  a  greater 
length ;  the  back  becomes  hollow,  or  curved. 


AN  ESSAY  ON  SHOEING  HORSES. 


IMPROVED  HORSE  SHOE. 

Patent  owned  by  Robebt  Hale,  Fitchburg,  Masg. 

This  Shoe  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  ever  invented,  and  those 
persons  who  are  in  favor  of  a  more  rational  system  of  shoeing  horses 
will  certainly  give  the  enterpirsing  owner  of  this  ^^ patent shoe^''  their 
countenance  and  support.  The  shoe  has  a  continuous  calk,  pointed 
to  heel,  which  is  something  very  desirable,  and  a  very  great  improve- 
ment on  the  ordinary  calks,  which  are  on  the  principle  of  a  triangle, 
and  a  rickety  sort  of  an  arrangement  for  any  poor  horse  to  stand  on. 

I  think  this  neio  invented  shoe  is  better  calculated  to  preserve  the 
natural  tread  and  functions  of  the  foot  than  any  other  now  in  use, 
and  I  advise  the  readers  of  this  work  and  all  persons  owning  horses 
to  give  this  shoe  a  fair  trial,  for  I  fully  indorse  all  that  the  proprietor 
claims  for  it.  The  above  shoe  has  been  used  in  various  parts  of  the 
United  States,  and  has  given  universal  satisfaction. 


126  ESSAY   ON    SHOEING    HORSES. 

It  has  upon  its  outer  edge  a  narrow  projection,  of  even  thickness, 
■with  a  thin  internal  web — the  narrow  projection  forming  a  continuous 
calk,  in  which  is  a  groove  through  which  the  nails  are  driven.  The 
web  is  much  thinner,  and  the  whole  shoe  thus  formed,  weighs  about 
one-fourth  less  than  any  common  shoe,  and  at  the  same  time  is 
stronger  and  stiffer. 

This  shoe  possesses  the  following  advantages,  viz. : 

First.     Is  less  in  weight  than  any  other  of  the  same  size. 

Second.  Admits  of  being  nailed  around  the  toe,  where  the  shell 
of  the  hoof  is  thicker  than  at  any  other  part,  and  of  course  requires 
less  nails  at  the  heels,  or  quarters,  leaving  this  part  of  tha  foot  free, 
neither  being  crowded  in  or  out  by  being  confined  to  a  rigid  bar  of 
iron. 

Third,  Admits  of  the  frog  coming  in  contact  more  readily  with 
the  earth,  thereby  absorbing  the  requisite  moisture  to  keep  it  in  a 
healthy  condition  and  soft,  as  nature  intended,  in  order  that  it  might 
act  as  an  elastic  cushion,  to  receive  in  part  the  force  of  the  blow  and 
prevent  injury  to  the  whole  system  when  stepping  on  hard  surfaces 
or  stones. 

Fourth.  Prevents  the  slipping  of  the  foot  either  back  or  side- 
ways on  any  soil  or  surface  when  traveling — and  with  the  same  mus- 
cular power,  a  horse  will  travel  more  miles  per  day. 

Fifth.  Greater  ease  and  comfort  when  standing,  as  the  foot  is 
raised  alike  at  the  heel  and  toe,  and  bears  upon  the  shell  in  a  natural 
manner. 

Sixth.  The  internal  web  protects  the  sole  from  injury  by  contact 
with  any  hard  substances — and  also  prevents  hailing. 

Seventh.     Great  economy  in  shoeing. 

This  shoe  is  in  every  respect  superior  for  all  horses  used  for  mili- 
tary purposes. 

The  shoe  is  made  of  puddled  iron,  of  the  very  best  charcoal-bloif'iil 
iron  with  steel  calks,  and  of  all  steeL 

HORSE    SHOES   SHOULD  BE    CONCAVE   NEXT   THE    GROUND — EVILS   OP 
CREATING   LENGTHY   TOES. 

One  of  the  principal  objects  in  applying  shoes  to  the  feet  of  horses, 
is  to  preserve  the  concavity  of  the  natural  foot,  at  its  sole.  A  horse 
in  his  natural  state,  and,  indeed,  up  to  the  moment  of  affixing  the 
first  pairs  of  shoes  to  his  feet,  lias  a  noticeable  concavity  of  sole  ; 
the  hoof  somewhat  projecting  beneath  the  sole,  may  be  compared  to 
claws,  or  to  the  nails  of  man,  each  of  which  aid  in  securing  so  many 
points  of  resistance  ;  hence,  in  the  case  of  a  horse,  such  conforma- 
tion of  foot  aids  materially  to  prevent  slipping  on  smooth  pavements, 
also  secures  good  foothold,  so  that  the  body  can  be  advanced  with 
less  muscular  exertion  than  if  the  shoe  and  foot  presented  to  the 
ground  a  convexity,  in  which  case  no  hold  or  fulci'um  could  be 
obtained. 

The  evils  of  a  convex,  or  even  flat  surface,  next  the  ground,  is 
best  observable  in  the  hind  extremities,  the  main  use  of  which  is  the 
propulsion  of  the  body  forwards,  and  when  hauling  a  loaded  vehicle, 
also.  In  accomplishing  the  labor,  the  power  is  derived  from  the 
muscles  and  tendons ;  the  bones  of  tho  leg  are  the  compound  levers ; 


ESSAY   ON    SHOEING   HOESES.  127 

the  muscles  and  tendons  being  inserted  into  tlie  bones,  it  follows  that 
the  toe  and  outside  border  of  the  hoof  or  shoe  (provided  the  latter 
is  concave  next  the  ground)  become  the  fixed  points  of  the  leverage  ; 
any  deviation  from  this  simple  mechanical  contrivance  operates  much 
against  the  animaPs  powers  of  hauling. 

Therefore  I  contend  that  the  ground  surface  of  the  shoe  should  be 
concave,  or  saucer  shape  ;  the  outer  rim  or  edge  being  prominent, 
takes  the  place  of  the  outside  edge  of  the  unshod  foot,  and  the  sur- 
face next  the  ground  being  concave,  it  corresponds  to  the  natural 
concavity  of  the  hoof. 

Unfortunately  for  the  poor  horse,  very  few  persons  who  preside  at 
the  forge,  take  the  above  view  of  the  case ;  hence,  if  wc  take  up  a 
horse's  foot  and  examine  the  shoe,  we  shall  often  find  that  the  shoe 
is  wrong  side  up,  viz.,  the  convex  surface  is  next  the  ground;  and 
any  person  acquainted  with  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  having  the 
least  sympathy  for  the  poor  horse,  cannot  do  otherwise  than  deplore 
this  very  faulty  method  of  shoeing. 

When  Surgeon  Percival  first  entered  the  British  army,  the  above 
faulty  method  was  universally  practiced ;  he  immediately  ordered 
the  shoes  to  be  reversed — turned  upside  down — and  the  cavalry 
horses  were  much  benefited  by  this  impi-ovement,  for  it  prevented 
an  unnecessary  waste  of  muscular  power. 

It  therefore  matters  not  what  may  be  the  form  of  the  foot,  whether 
it  be  high  or  low  heeled,  contracted  at  the  heels,  lengthened  or  short- 
ened at  the  toe,  or  having  a  concave  or  convex  sole  ;  the  shoe  must, 
or  ought  to  be,  concave  on  the  ground  surface.  In  other  parts  of 
the  shoe,  deviations  from  the  general  rule  are  absolute  in  conse- 
quence of  the  ever-varying  form  and  action  of  the  foot  under  the 
states  of  health,  disease,  and  malformation ;  and  in  concluding  this 
part  of  my  subject,  I  remark  that  in  the  concave  ground  surface  of 
the  feet  of  quadrupeds,  and  even  bipeds,  we  are  presented  with  a 
pattern  for  the  ground  surface  of  shoes,  requiring  no  improvement, 
and  if  we  were  to  follow  this  pattern  more  closely,  there  would  be 
fewer  accidents  from  falling,  and  a  less  number  of  unnecessarily  lame 
horses. 

The  next  evil  prevalent  in  a  faulty  method  of  shoeing,  is  that  of 
paring  the  foot,  so  as  to  produce  unnecessary  length  of  hoof  at  the 
toe.  These  long  toes  are  a  mechanical  disadvantage  to  the  horse  : 
he  cannot  raise  the  limb  and  foot,  evenly,  upAvard  and  forward ; 
hence,  describes  a  sort  of  curve,  and  in  so  doing  often  strikes  the 
opposite  fetlock,  and  thus,  as  the  saying  is,  "  interferes." 

Long  toes  also  tend  to  produce  strain,  or  sprain  of  the  flexor  ten- 
dons and  other  parts,  and  soon  the  knee  bulges  out  in  front  on  a  line 
with  the  lengthened  toe  ;  then  the  flexor  tendons  either  shorten,  or 
the  annular  ligament,  at  the  back  part  of  the  knee,  contracts,  and 
then  we  have  a  genuine  case  of  "  sprung  knee,"  an  unnecessary 
disease,  a  permanent  eye-sore,  and  the  animal  is  ever  afterwards 
unsound ;  unless,  by  the  operation  of  tendinotomy,  and  the  feet  being 
put  into  a  proper  shape  by  a  sensible  shoeing  smith,  the  animal  is  able 
to  perform  ordinary  horse  labor;  or,  in  other  words,  is  able  to  per- 
form the  "  ordinary  duties  of  an  ordinary  horse."  Dr.  Cuming,  a 
very  experienced  man  in  the  art  of  shoemg  horses,  thus  discourses 
on  the  evils  of  lengthy  toes : 


128  ESSAY    ON   BHOEING   HOESES. 

"  Another  evil,  resulting  frora  the  length  at  which  the  toes  are 
commonly  left,  is  interfering.  The  horse,  finding  the  long  projection 
in  front  of  his  foot  as  so  much  leverage,  acting  to  his  disadvantage, 
gradually  gfts  into  a  habit  of  shifting  it,  by  raising  himself  from  one 
or  the  other  of  the  quai'tcrs.  This  is  still  more  the  case  M'hen,  in 
addition  to  the  long  toe  left  on  the  hoof,  a  small  round  knob  of  steel 
is  set  into  the  point  of  the  shoe,  as  if  in  contempt  of  all  that  nature 
teaches.  With  these  absurd  contrivances  placed  between  his  weight 
and  the  ground  which  supports  it,  it  is  next  to  impossible  for  a  horse 
to  raise  himself  evenly  upward  and  forward,  and  hence  the  number 
that  one  way  or  another  interfere.  If  in  raising  his  weight  from  the 
ground,  the  pressure  be  upon  the  inside  quarter  of  the  foot,  then  the 
thick  part  of  the  pastern  is  thrown  inward,  in  the  way  of  being 
struck  by  the  upper  edge  of  the  hoof  of  the  other  side.  If  the  cant 
be  the  other  way,  and  the  outside  quarter  raise  the  weight,  the  inside 
edge  of  the  shoe  is  thrown  round  and  upward,  and  he  runs  the  risk  of 
cutting  with  it  the  opposite  leg.  Even  when  the  horse,  from  having 
a  naturally  good  gait,  escapes  both  these  evils,  still  he  is  not  free 
from  trouble  caused  by  this  shape  of  shoe. 

"  The  fore  foot  of  the  horse,  as  nature  makes  it,  has  no  such  pro- 
jection in  front  and  downward,  as  that  which  the  smiths  here  give 
it,  but  rather  the  reverse.  The  sole  surftxce  at  the  toe  is  commonly 
broken  off  and  notched  back  at  the  middle,  so  that  the  pressure,' 
when  the  foot  strikes  the  ground  or  the  animal  is  raising  his  weight, 
is  distributed  over  the  whole  front  of  the  foot.  In  accordance  with 
this,  the  coffin  bone,  which  fills  the  internal  cavity  of  the  hoof,  has 
the  same  turned-up  and  notched-back  form.  In  England,  France, 
and  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  generally,  wherever  Veterinary 
Schools  exist,  and  scientific  attention  is  given  to  shoeing,  this  natu- 
ral form  of  the  foot  is  more  or  less  followed  in  the  shape  of  the  shoe, 
and  the  animal  has  preserved  to  him,  along  with  the  protection  from 
wear  which  the  shoe  gives,  the  position  of  tread  for  which  nature 
has  constructed  the  other  mechanical  arrangements  of  his  organs  of 
motion.  Why  it  is  not  so  here  is  perhaps  partially  due  to  the  use  of 
butteris  for  cleaning  out  the  foot  when  it  is  shod,  as  it  is  impossible 
with  this  antiquated  instrument  to  bring  the  hoof  to  the  proper  shape 
in  all  its  parts ;  but  it  is  more  due  to  want  of  study  on  the  part  of 
those  who  shoe,  of  the  structure  of  the  foot,  its  uses,  and  the  rela- 
tion existing  between  it  and  the  other  motive  organs,  the  bones,  ten- 
dons, and  ligaments  of  the  limbs. 

IN  BEGAKD  TO  THE  RULES  OF  SHOEINa  nOESES. 

The  reader  is,  probably,  well  aware  that  great  diversity  of  opinion 
exists  among  men  regarding  the  be^t  method  of  applying  shoes  to 
horses'  feet,  yet  it  is  my  belief  that  the  best  system  is  that  which  is 
calculated  to  preserve  the  natural  function,  position,  and  action  of 
the  feet,  and  adopts  that  kind  of  shoe  which  aifords  the  most  protec- 
tion, yet  allows  the  frog  to  come  in  contact  with  the  ground  on  which 
the  animal  stands  or  travels  over. 

No  specific  rule  can  obtain  in  the  general  art  of  shoeing,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  the  feet  differ  very  much  imder  the  conditions  of 
health  and  disease ;  hence,  a  certain  form  of  shoe  well  adapted  to 


ESSAY   ON    SHOEING    HORSES  129 

meet  the  requirements  of  one  condition,  might  prove  positively  inju- 
rious in  another,  as  is  often  the  case. 

It  is  generally  understood  that  the  hoof  is  sufficiently  elastic  to 
guard  against  the  jar  and  concussion  which  occurs  every  time  the 
feet  are  planted  on  the  ground.  This  elasticity,  as  observed  in  a 
healthy  and  unfettered  hoof,  occui's  in  downward  and  backward 
directions.  It  is  scarcely  perceptible,  yet  wisely  is  it  so  ordained,  for 
if  there  was  much  expansibility,  or  lateral  motion  to  the  hoof,  it 
would  prove  ruinous  to  the  foot,  and  the  chances  of  securing  a  shoe 
to  the  same,  without  positive  injury,  would  be  very  small. 

It  is  evident  that  nature  has  provided  for  some  slight  action  of  this 
kind,  for  the  hoof  is  left  open  at  the  heels,  between  which  is  inter- 
posed a  soft,  elastic  substance,  known  as  the  frog,  which  allows  of 
the  motions  alluded  to.  Had  the  intention  been  otherwise,  the  hoof 
might  have  presented  itself  in  the  form  of  a  hollow  cylinder. 

The  parts  within  the  hoof  known  as  the  laminae,  or  leaves,  articu- 
late with  each  other,  and  the  extent  of  their  articulation  is  that  of 
the  joint  contraction  and  expansion  of  the  hoof,  modified,  of  course, 
under  the  influence  of  partial  or  complete  pressure  while  traveling 
on  the  road. 

Now,  in  order  to  favor  this  physiological  action  of  the  foot,  the 
nails  must  not  be  inserted  any  nearer  the  heels  than  the  safety  of  the 
shoe  requires ;  for  should  the  shoe  be  nailed  all  around,  as  the  say- 
ing is,  the  hoof,  at  its  solar  border,  is  fettered  ;  hence,  the  action  of 
articulation  cannot  occur,  and  the  horse  soon  becomes  lame.  Three 
nails  on  the  inside  and  five  on  the  outside,  are  all  that  are  needed  to 
secure  the  shoe  to  the  foot ;  provided,  however,  the  nail  heads  be 
countersunk,  and  the  points  well  clinched ;  if  they  are  not,  the  shoe 
becomes  loose,  in  consequence  of  the  nails  being  driven  upwards  by 
repeated  blows  on  their  heads  as  the  horse  travels  on  hard  roads  and 
unyielding  pavements. 

If  possible,  the  frog  should  be  allowed  to  come  in  contact  with 
the  ground,  for  it  acts  as  a  pad,  and  very  much  lessens  jar  or  con- 
cussion, which  otherwise  must  necessarily  occur  ;  it  thus  becomes  a 
wall  of  defense,  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  over  which  the  crea- 
ture travels,  determines  the  form,  character  and  endurance  of  the 
frog. 

Thus,  in  the  unshod  colt  we  usually,  in  a  healthy  foot,  find  the  frog 
well  formed,  prominent,  and  callous ;  this  is  the  result  of  the  stimu- 
lating hard  knocks  it  receives  when  traveling  on  hard  roads.  On 
the  other  hand,  should  we  examine  some  animals'  feet  after  they 
have  been  long  submitted  to  the  evils  of  domestication,  which 
includes  faulty  shoeing,  we  shall  find  that  the  frog  is  often  imperfect, 
both  in  function  and  stnicture. 

I  would  not  have  the  reader  infer  from  these  remarks  that  the 
blacksmith  is  always  blameable  for  loss  of  frog,  &c.,  for  in  the  win- 
ter season  calks  seem  to  be  necessary,  and,  under  such  circum- 
stances, it  is  almost  impossible  to  bring  the  frog  in  contact  with  the 
ground ;  hence,  it  may  deteriorate.  Then  again,  there  are  various 
diseases  of  the  foot  which  interfere  with  the  integrity  of  the  frog  as 
well  as  that  of  other  parts  which  enter  into  the  composition  of  a 
horse's  foot 

9  it.. 


130  ESSAY    ON    SHOEING   HOKSES. 


REMARKS   ON   THE   FROG. 


There  are  several  reasons  why  large  portions  of  the  frog  should 
not  be  removed,  and  I  will  briefly  allude  to  some  of  them.  In  the 
healthy  frog  there  is  a  solid  wedge-like  portion  of  horn,  extending 
from  the  cleft  to  the  point  of  the  same ;  it  lies  directly  under  that 
small,  yet  very  important  bone,  known  as  the  "navicular" — which 
signifies  hoat-shape — and  this  bone,  its  region  and  contiguous  tissues, 
often  become  the  seat  of  a  very  painful  disease  known  as  ?iavicular- 
thritis — inflammation  of  the  parts.  This  disease  often  arises — so  say 
the  authorities — in  consequence  of  removing  the  bulbous  prolonga- 
tion termed  the  anterior  point  and  bulb  of  the  frog,  the  function  of 
which  is  to  protect,  to  a  certain  extent,  this  bone,  and  the  sensitive 
parts  connected  with  it,  and  to  shield  them  from  the  injuries  which 
might  otherwise  occur  when  the  animal  is  made  to  travel  fast  over 
hard  and  uneven  roads. 

A  very  distinguished  physiologist  has  asserted  that  when  once  this 
bulbous  enlargement  is  cut  ofi",  it  can  never  be  reproduced,  and  thus 
this  peculiar  bulbous  enlargement  is  seldom  found  in  a  horse's  foot 
after  he  has  been  pared  and  shod.  This  enlargement  or  thickening 
of  horny  substance  in  the  frog  not  only  protects  the  navicular  region, 
but  it  also  shields  the  coffin  joint,  yet  there  is  no  part  of  the  sole 
which  receives  such  a  thorough  paring  as  this. 

The  bulb  of  the  toe  once  removed,  nature  causes  augmented  secre- 
tion of  horny  substance  to  make  up  for  the  loss  of  this  bulb ;  this 
secretion  is  often  very  abundant,  but  nature  is  no  match  against 
knife  and  butteris — the  faster  the  horn  grows,  the  better  chance  is 
there  for  those  who  feel  disposed  to  cut  and  whittle  it  at  every  sub- 
sequent shoeing  ;  then  the  secretory  function  soon  becomes  impaired, 
and  we  find  that  the  part  finally  becomes  inelastic  and  brittle. 

The  frog,  as  a  whole,  is  that  cushion-like  substance,  which,  by 
coming  in  contact  with  the  ground  prevents  jar  and  concussion,  not 
only  to  the  sensitive  tissues  within  the  hoof,  but  to  the  joints  above  ; 
— in  fact,  by  the  same  means,  some  jar  or  concussion,  which  might 
otherwise  occur  to  the  whole  body,  is  lessened. 

The  frog  is  a  part  which  is  developed  in  the  same  ratio  with  other 
parts  of  the  hoof,  provided  the  parts  are  in  a  healthy  cooidition,  and 
thus  the  integrity  of  the  whole  is  preserved  ;  the  frog,  therefore, 
serving  as  a  part'of  the  basis  of  the  animal  structure,  cannot  be  re- 
moved with  impunity. 

The  reader  is  probably  aware  that  if  the  frog  be  cut  away,  so  that 
nothing  but  the  shoe  comes  in  contact  with  the  earth,  the  body  of 
the  antmal  has  little,  if  any,  solar  support;  hence  arises  strain  of 
the  lamina?,  and  finally  descent  of  the  sole. 

Strain,  or  sprain  of  the  lamince,  and  descent  of  the  sole,  is  followed 
by  structural  alterations  of  tissues  and  parts  within  the  hoof,  and 
then  the  animal  is  said  to  be  "  foundered" — ruined  in  the  feet. 

When  preparing  the  foot  in  view  of  applying  the  shoe,  it  may  be 
proper  to  remove  "just  about  as  much  of  loose  and  rough  portions  of 
frog  as  the  animal  might  be  supposed  to  wear  ofl",  provided  he  were 
not  shod ;  and  yet,  according  to  the  testimony  of  eminent  surgeons, 
this  is  not  always  good  policy,  for  these  ragged  and  uncouth  looking 


ESSAY   ON    SHOEING    HOIiSES.  131 

parts  usually  serve  as  a  protection  to  new  formations  bencatli,  and 
should  not  be  removed  until  the  latter  are  perfected. 

I  am  aware  that  the  frog  looks  better  when  pared,  but  a  healthy 
condition  of  the  parts  docs  not  consist  altogether  in  good  looks,  and 
tlie  same  reasoning  also  applies  to  the  body  of  the  animal ;  there  are 
many  fine  looking  horses  in  this  city,  yet  many  of  them,  in  conse- 
quence of  hereditary  predisposition  and  insidious  disease,  may  be 
next  to  death's  door.  We  get  a  very  handsome  looking  hoof  and 
frog,  by  means  of  knife,  butteris  and  rasp,  but  I  defy  any  man  to 
preserve  their  integrity  and  keep  them  healthy  by  such  instruments. 

There  was  a  time  when  the  practice  of  cutting  away  the  frog  was 
recommended  by  surgeons  themselves,  so  that  the  smiths  who  now, 
in  good  faith,  practice  it,  are  not  always  blameable.  One  author, 
whose  work  I  have  perused,  endeavors  to  smooth  the  matter  over  as 
follows  :  "  The  frog  offers  so  little  resistance  to  the  knife,  and  pre- 
sents such  an  even  surface,  so  clean  and  nice,  and  cuts  so  easy,  that 
it  requires  more  philosophy  than  many  smiths  possess  to  resist  the 
temptation  to  slice  it  away,  despite  a  knowledge,  in  some  instances, 
that  it  would  be  far  wiser  to  let  the  frog  alone." 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  cavalry  surgeons  to  the  British 
army  says,  that  he  never  allows  a  knife  or  butteris  to  touch  the  frog, 
for  the  simple  reason  that  a  long  experience  has  shown  conclusively 
that  the  frog  possesses,  under  certain  circumstances,  less  reproduc- 
tive powers  than  some  other  parts  of  the  hoof,  and  the  individual 
alluded  to  has  had  horses  in  his  possession  for  more  than  five  years, 
whose  frogs  never  scraped  acquaintance  with  a  knife  or  anything  of 
the  sort. 

The  reader  may  desire  to  know  how  the  frog  is  to  disencumber 
itself  of  its  ragged  and  apparently  superfluous  surfaces;  if  so,  I 
answer  that  nature  has  provided  a  means,  which  is  a  process  of  cast- 
ing off  or  sloughing,  and  When  this  does  occur,  a  new  growth  is  seen 
beneath  it,  a  smaller  frog  is  visible,  yet  it  is  an  entire  one,  and  soon 
acquires  magnitude  in  ratio  with  its  connections. 

Among  some  persons  an  idea  prevails  that  a  hoof  should  be  circu- 
lar. This  is  a  great  mistake,  for  on  examination  of  a  colt's  foot  we 
find  that  the  segment  of  a  circle  is  more  apparent  on  the  outside  of 
the  hoof;  on  the  inside,  from  the  toe  to  the  heel,  we  have  less  curve. 

This  appears  to  be  a  Avise  arrangement,  as  there  is  less  liability  to 
strike  the  inner  angle  of  the  hoof  against  the  opposite  limb  ;  there- 
fore I  infer  that  any  attempts  by  means  of  knife  and  rasp  to  make 
the  inner  margin  of  the  hoof  describe  the  segment  of  a  circle,  is 
contrary  to  the  intention  of  nature,  and  injurious  to  the  feet. 

REMARKS   ON   THE   APPLICATION   OP   HOT   SHOES. 

Hot  shoes,  as  they  are  often  applied,  tend  to  carbonize  the  sole 
and  crust,  increase  the  temperature  of  the  foot  or  feet,  and  thus,  for 
the  time  being,  induce  functional  derangement  of  the  plantar  system ; 
and  if  the  horse  be  the  subject  of  an  inflammatory  diathesis,  or  at 
all  predisposed  to  disease  of  the  feet,  of  an  acute  character,  the  hot 
shoe  may  possibly — and  it  often  does — operate  as  an  exciting  cause 
to  develop  a  latent  aftection. 

In  view  of  giving  the  non-professional  reader  some  idea  of  the 
anatomy  of  the  parts,  that  he  may  exercise  his  own  judgment  in  the 


132  ESSAY    ON    SHOEING   HOKSES. 

premises,  I  offer  the  following :  By  means  of  a  microscope,  we 
detect  on  the  inside  of  the  hoof^ — superior  and  inferior  parts — a  vast 
number  of  perforations,  resembling  the  net-work  of  a  seive  ;  these 
are  termed  "  plantar  porosities."  In  contact  with  these  parts  are  the 
sensitive  tissues,  composed  of  slender  fibres  or  filaments,  termed 
papillae — nipple — highly  organized  structures,  consisting  of  cellular, 
venous,  arterial  and  nervous  tissues.  Supposing  that  we  use  a  mi- 
croscope which  magnifies  250  times,  or  diameters,  each  papillary 
arrangement  appears  of  the  size  of  four  twenty-fifths  of  an  inch,  and 
they  are  to  be  found  throughout  the  entire  circumference  of  the  fleshy 
sole  ;  the  papillae  are  in  contiguity  with  the  porosities,  and  their  func- 
tion is  to  secrete  the  equivalents  of  organization,  and  thus  maintain 
the  integrity  of  the  feet. 

The  porosities  alluded  to  are  the  inlets,  outlets,  commencements, 
and  terminations  of  the  agglutinated  hollow  tubes — numbering  many 
thousands — which  collectively  compose  the  wall  and  base  of  the 
hoof  Into  these  hollow  tubes  are  prolongations.  The  latter  are 
heated,  burnt,  or  altered  in  structure,  when  brought  in  contact  with 
a  red-hot  shoe  ;  hence,  the  function  of  the  same  must  necessarily  bo 
impaired. 

In  the  crust,  or  wall  of  the  foot,  the  tubular  arrangement  is  some- 
what perpendicular.  They  insidiously  increase  in  length,  in  a  down- 
ward and  forward  direction,  which  gives  length  to  the  hoof  In  the 
sole,  the  tubes  are  horizontal,  which  explains  the  multiplication  of 
the  same,  and  the  modus  operandi  of  the  physiological  or  natural 
thickening  of  the  sole. 

The  tubes  of  the  crust  and  sole  are  usually  considered  as  continuous ; 
consequently,  if  we  cut  or  pare  in  the  region  of  their  junction,  we 
not  only  open  their  canals,  but  weaken  their  bond  of  union  ;  and  in 
such  cases  we  must  expect  dislocation  of  the  lamince,  which  is  equiv- 
alent to  descent  of  sole,  known  as  "  flat,  or  convex  feet." 

Hence,  a  red-hot  shoe  applied  to  the  living  tissues  of  a  healthy 
fbot,  must,  necessarily,  contract  the  calibre  of  the  porosities  with 
which  it  is  brought  in  contact,  and  impair  the  function  of  the  same. 

The  reader  is  probably  aware  that  moist  heat  does  tend  to  relax 
all  tissues  of  the  animal  economy,  and  that  the  reverse  is  the  case 
when  heat  alone  is  applied ;  for  example,  a  dry  floor,  or  a  stall  floor, 
strewed  with  saw  dust,  a  dry  sandy  beach,  all  abstract  moisture  fiom 
moist  bodies ;  yet  a  heated  shoe  is  a  more  direct  absorber  of  moist- 
ure than  either  of  the  above,  and  must,  necessarily,  commuuica*e  an 
undue  amount  of  caloric  to  the  parts.  By  this  method,  the  foot  is 
not  only  carbonized,  but  afebrile  or  injlammatory  condition  is  inau- 
gurated. 

In  view  of  sustaining  the  latter  proposition,  I  introduce  the  follow- 
ing evidence  from  a  report  on  the  subject  made  by  a  distinguished 
professor  of  the  veterinary  art,  a  resident  of  France.  By  a  series 
of  experiments  he  discovered  that  the  hoof  and  the  sole  were  con- 
ductors of  caloric ;  that  the  conductile  power  of  the  crust  was  infe- 
rior to  that  of  the  sole,  (yet  the  latter  often  gets  a  pretty  essential 
burning  whenever  a  horse  is  brought  to  be  shod),  the  very  part  that 
ought  not  to  be  burned.  lie  found,  also,  that  it  is  not  before  the 
lapse  of  four  or  five  minutes  after  combustion  that  the  thermometer 
indicates  the  highest  degree  of  heat  to  the  foot.     Also,  that  the 


ESSAY   ON    SHOEING    HORSES.  133 

thinner  the  crust  is,  the  more  heat  becomes  transmitted  to  the  inter- 
nal parts. 

Having  thus  assured  himself  of  the  hoof's  conducting  power,  his 
next  object  was  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  heat  transmitted  to  the 
sensitive  tissues.     The  facts  are  as  follows  : 

From  twelve  experiments  made  on  feet,  in  view  of  throwing  light 
on  a  subject  hitherto  considered  as  dark^  the  following  are  the  re- 
sults : 

First.  That  the  ordinary  shoe,  heated  to  cherry  redness,  and 
applied  to  a  horny  sole  of  an  inch  in  thickness,  and  kept  burning  for 
one  minute,  the  carbonized  portion  not  being  obliterated  in  "  paring 
out  the  foot,"  has  transmitted  from  three  to  four  degrees  of  caloric 
to  the  villo-papillary  and  reticular  tissue. 

Second.  That  the  greatest  amount  of  caloric  transmitted  in  these 
experiments,  was  felt,  according  to  the  thermometer,  between  the 
fourth  and  sixth  minute  from  the  application  of  the  heated  shoe. 

Third.  That  the  sole,  pared  to  the  thickness  of  one-third  of  an 
inch,  giving  under  the  pressure  of  the  thumb,  and  the  iron  kept  burn- 
ing upon  it  for  half  a  minute,  exhibited  the  villo-papillae  destroyed 
by  the  caloric. 

Fourth.  That  when  the  sole  had  but  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in 
thickness,  and  readily  bent  under  the  thumb,  when  the  heated  shoe 
was  held  upon  it,  burning  for  half  a  minute,  both  its  villo-papillae 
and  the  surface  of  the  reticular  tissues  were  destroyed  by  the  caloric. 

From  other  twelve  experiments,  performed  with  the  shoe  heated 
to  black  redness,  the  following  facts  were  gleaned  : 

First.  The  shoe  being  applied  to  the  sole  upon  which  the  burnt 
mark  still  remained,  it  was  found  to  transmit  in  the  same  time  more 
caloric  to  the  living  tissues  than  the  iron  at  a  cherry  red  heat. 

Second.  The  dull  heated  iron,  the  thickness  of  the  sole  being  the 
same,  caused  a  more  lively  and  deeper  burn  than  the  bright  heated 
one. 

Third.  These  experiments  confirm  what  was  said  by  the  elder 
Lafosse,  in  1858,  viz.,  that  it  was  not  the  bright  heated  iron  which 
oftenest  occasioned  the  burning  of  the  fleshy  sole,  but  rather  the 
iron  brought  to  a  dull  or  obscure  heat. 

"  A  notion  has  generally  passed  current  among  persons  engaged 
in  the  art  of  shoeing,  that  if  the  burnt  part  of  the  sole  be  pared 
away,  by  means  of  the  ordinary  tools  (knife  and  butteris),  immedi- 
ately after  the  application  of  the  hot  shoe,  the  burn  is  obliterated, 
with  its  effects  at  the  same  time.  I  found  this,  however,  by  placing 
my  hand  upon  the  burnt  spot,  and  by  testing  it  with  a  thermometer, 
not  to  be  correct ;  and  I  further  demonstrated  its  fallacy  by  direct 
experiment." 

The  reader  will  now  perceive  that  the  danger  apprehended  as  the 
result  of  hot  shoeing,  is  not  entirely  gromidless  ;  neither  do  the 
efiects  of  the  same  exist  only  in  a  fertile  imagination,  as  some  writers 
have  asserted,  but  there  is  often  more  truth  than  poetry  in  the  matter. 

Unfortunately  we  have  a  vast  amount  of  book  knowledge  on  shoe- 
ing., which  often  passes  current  as  the  result  of  scientific  investiga- 
tion ;  yet,  in  my  opinion,  the  horse  and  its  owner  would  have  been 
better  off  had  such  works  never  been  written. 

Some  smiths  contend  that  it  is  necessary  to  apply  hot  shoes  in 


134:  ESSAY   ON    SHOKING    HORSES 

order  to  "  ascertain  the  hearings^''''  or  ratlier  to  discover  the  uneven 
parts  which  necessarily  occur  as  the  result  of  faulty  paring.  Now 
I  contend  that  a  good  workman,  with  proper  tools  at  command,  can 
make  an  even  surface  ;  hence,  a  good  workman  has  no  reasonable 
excuse  for  the  unnecessary  application  of  red-hot  shoes.  In  fact  the 
application  of  the  same  either  shows  that  the  smith  is  wedded  to 
the  errors  of  our  forefathers,  or  else  is  deficient  in  skill.  Now,  if 
this  be  true,  every  honest  smith  who  understands  his  business,  should 
try  to  dispense  with  hot  shoeing,  and  consider  the  practice  as  one  of 
the  barbarisms  of  the  ancients,  whose  policy  it  was  "never  to  forget 
what  they  had  learned,  and  never  to  learn  anything  new.'''' 

Some  smiths,  I  am  infoi*med,  merely  apply  the  heated  shoe  for  the 
purpose  of  carbonizing,  and  thus  softening  the  sole  and  crust  of  the 
hoof  so  that  it  can  be  easily  pared.  This,  I  think,  is  a  very  lame 
excuse,  for  in  most  cases  too  much  of  the  same  is  removed,  and  thus 
the  horse  has  "  tender  feet." 

If  the  above  is  true,  then  it  appears  that  the  intelligent  and  pro- 
gressive smith  of  the  present  day  has  no  rational  excuse  for  the 
application  of  heated  shoes  ;  and  he  who  acts  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  reason  and  humanity,  is  sure  to  secure  a  good  business,  and 
the  thanks  of  an  intelligent  community  will  be  his  reward. 

In  offering  the  above  remarks  on  the  practice  and  principles  of 
shoeing,  I  have  no  desire  to  scold  or  fiud  fault  with  the  honest  smith, 

"  Whose  brow  is  often  wet  with  honest  sweat," 

for  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  lameness  in  horses  is  often  attributed 
to  faulty  shoeing,  when  such  is  not  the  case.  For  example,  a  horse 
has  recently  been  shod  and  become  suddenly  lame ;  this  lameness 
may  be  obscure,  so  that  its  owner  cannot  determine  its  location,  and 
he  jumps  at  the  conclusion  that  the  lameness  has  its  origin  in  faulty 
shoeing,  when  the  reverse  is  the  case — the  animal  being  lame  in  the 
shoulder  instead  of  the  foot. 

QUARTEE-CEACK8. 

The  best  plan  for  shoeing  horses  with  quarter-crack  and  toe-cracK, 
is  as  follows :  Before  operating  on  the  foot  or  applying  the  shoe,  the 
foot  should  be  poulticed  with  linseed  or  slippery  elm ;  the  poultice  to 
remain  on  the  parts  for  a  period  of  at  least  twelve  hours.  The  object 
in  applying  a  poultice  is  to  soften  the  hoof  and  abate  any  irritation 
or  lameness  which  may  exist ;  then  by  means  of  a  crooked  end  of  a 
drawing  knife,  all  extraneous  matter  is  to  be  removed  from  the  crack 
or  fissure ;  a  fine  gimlet,  corresponding  to  the  size  of  the  clinch 
(which  is  a  round  shoe  nail),  is  then  to  be  sent  through  the  hoof  di- 
rectly across  the  crack,  taking  care  not  to  get  too  deep  a  hold,  for 
fear  of  wounding  the  sensitive  tissues  which  lie  in  contact  with  the 
inner  part  of  the  hoof;  the  nail  or  rivet  is  now  to  be  sent  through 
the  gimlet  hole — across  the  crack — and  by  means  of  hammer  and 
pincers  it  must  be  well  clinched  ;  then  the  projecting  heads  are  to  be 
rasped  off.  The  hoof  is  now  to  be  cut  through  across  the  crack, 
close  up  to  the  coronet,  and  thereby  all  communication  between  the 
new  growth  and  the  fissure,  or  crack,  is  effectually  cut  of. 

When  the  crack  is  quite  extensive  it  may  be  necessary  to  insert 


ESSAY  ON  SHOEING  H0KSE8.  135 

more  than  one  rivet.  So  soon  as  the  process  of  riveting  is  com- 
pleted, the  crack  or  fissure  may  be  dressed  with  a  small  quantity  of 
strong  spirits  of  hartshorn,  then  bind  a  piece  of  tape  firmly  around 
the  foot,  and  keep  the  latter  cool  by  frequent  spongings  of  cold  wa- 
ter. A  bar-shoe,  affording  equal  pressure  around  the  crust  and  frog, 
is  to  be  applied  ;  two  nails  on  the  inside  and  three  on  the  outside,  as 
remote  from  the  heels  as  possible.  This  form  of  shoe  is,  under  the 
above  circumstances,  the  best  that  can  be  applied ;  yet,  in  case  of 
quarter-crack,  perhaps  a  plain  shoe,  applied  so  as  to  bear  upon  the 
heel  under  the  crack,  may  answer  better  than  the  bar-shoe. 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  I  recommend  the  use  of  a  gimlet  for 
perforating  the  walls  of  the  hoof.  It  may  be  proper,  however,  for 
me  to  remark,  that  in  case  the  walls  be  thin,  such  an  instrument  can- 
not be  used  ;  therefore  the  smith  must  either  use  an  awl  or  a  brad- 
awl, for  if  he  drive  the  nail,  or  clinch,  without  first  perforating  the 
hoof,  the  fibres  of  the  latter  are  unnecessarily  separated. 

From  what  I  have  already  written  in  reference  to  the  art  of  shoe- 
ing, the  reader  will  probably  infer  that  there  is  no  great  difficulty  in 
shoeing  a  strong,  well  formed  foot ;  and  all  that  is  necessary  in  the 
preparation  of  such  a  foot,  is  to  level  the  crust  and  sole,  and  scrape 
oif  any  loose  portions  of  horny  siibstance  that  may  be  found  on  the 
sole,  frog,  or  bars.  The  nails — two  on  the  inside  and  three  on  the 
outside — should  be  placed  as  near  the  toe  as  is  consistent  with  the 
security  of  the  shoe  ;  the  heads  of  the  nails  should  be  "  sunk,  or 
counter-sunk,"  so  that  when  traveling  on  the  road  or  on  paved 
streets,  the  nails  remain  immovable,  and  thus  the  shoe  is  not  likely 
to  get  loose ;  and  the  same  will  be  held  firmer  to  the  foot  if  torsion 
be  practiced.  Torsion  signifies  twisting,  and  is  performed  in  the 
following  manner :  after  the  nail  has  been  carefully  driven  home,  and 
before  it  is  cut  or  broken  off  prior  to  clinching,  it  must  be  seized  or 
inclosed  in  the  fangs  of  a  pair  of  pincers,  and  then  twisted  several 
times  so  as  to  give  it  a  sort  of  cork-screw  end ;  the  screw  thus 
formed  is  extended  to  the  upper  part  of  the  nail,  within  the  fibres  of 
the  hoof,  and  of  course  requires  much  more  force  to  draw  it  than 
when  a  nail  remains  untwisted.  The  nail  being  thus  twisted,  it  is 
cut  off  and  clinched.  It  appears  to  me  that  this  method  is  far  supe- 
rior to  that  heretofore  practiced. 

The  surface  of  the  shoe  which  bears  on  the  ground  should  be  hol- 
lowed— concave — for  by  this  means  the  horse  is  enabled  to  get  a 
secure  foothold ;  and  such  a  formation  corresponds  with  the  natural 
form  of  well  formed  feet,  which  are,  in  the  undomesticated  state  oi 
the  animal,  always  concave. 

When  the  bottom  or  sole  of  a  horse's  foot  is  flat  or  convex,  instead 
of  concave,  it  is  at  the  sam^  time  much  thinner  and  less  capable  of 
bearing  pressure.  The  shoe  for  such  a  foot  should  be  broader  than 
the  ordinary  one,  and  must  have  a  good  flat  seat  at  the  region  of  the 
junction  of  crust  and  sole.  This  form  of  foot  being  naturally  weak, 
in  consequence,  perhaps,  of  some  hereditary  predisposition,  great 
care  is  required  in  nailing  the  same,  otherwise  the  nail  is  apt,  it 
driven  too  far  in  an  upward  direction,  to  enter  the  sensitive  tissues, 
and  thus  the  horse  is  pricked,  as  the  saying  is. 

Finally,  the  feet  of  horses  are  often  variously  deformed,  in  conse- 
quence of  predisposition  lurking  in  breed,  from  bad  management, 


136  ESSAY    ON    SHOEING   HORSES. 

and  accidental  causes ;  therefore,  it  is  the  business  of  all  persons 
engaged  in  the  art  of  shoeing  horses  to  make  themselves  acquainted 
with  the  structure  and  function  of  a  horse's  foot;  for  in  the  present 
progressive  era,  when  improvements  are  treading  on  the  heels  of  im- 
provement, a  blacksmith  cannot  afford  to  plead  ignorance  on  such 
important  subjects,  which  are  vital  to  his  success  as  a  practical  shoe- 
ing smith. 

I  cannot  conscientiously  close  this  article  without  offering  a  few 
remarks  in  favor  of  that  much-abused  class  of  men  known  as  "  black- 
smiths." It  is  my  firm  belief  that  they  are  often,  very  often,  blamed 
without  any  rational  excuse  for  censure.  For  example,  a  horse  is 
recently  shod,  becomes  suddenly  lame,  the  lameness  may  be  so  ob- 
scure and  unaccountable  that  the  owner  and  his  advisers  cannot,  by 
ordinary  observation,  determine  the  seat  of  lameness,  and  they  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  mysterious  lameness  aas  its  origin  in  faulty 
shoeing,  which  may  not  be  the  case,  for  very  many  horses  are  pre- 
disposed to  various  diseases  of  the  feet  and  lameness  of  limbs, 
which,  under  the  very  bad  system  of  shoeing,  cannot  be  prevented. 

In  regard  to  had  shoeing,  it  is  my  opinion  that  many  smiths  do 
not  obtain  a  fair  compensation  for  their  services,  in  the  prosecution 
of  their  laborious  and  dangerous  vocation  ;  hence,  they  cannot  afford 
to  employ  the  best  kind  of  help ;  and  if,  under  the  circumstances,  a 
horse's  shoes  are  merely  tacked  on  to  the  feet,  at  the  rate  of  the 
prevalent  bread-and-butter  price,  the  owner  of  the  horse  is  more 
culpable  than  the  smith. 

If  horse-oicners  have  a  desire  to  guard  against  the  consequences 
of  faulty  shoeing,  and  wish  to  see  their  horses  shod  in  a  satisfactory 
manner,  I  advise  them  to  pay  the  blacksmith  a  livhig  price,  so  that 
he  can  afford  to  employ  "good  help" — men  who  know  how  to  per- 
form work  in  a  workmanlike  manner. 

Taking  a  rational  view  of  the  whole  art  of  shoeing,  the  greatest 
wonder  is  how  so  many  horses  used  for  draught  purposes  on  our  un- 
yielding pavements,  enjoy  freedom  from  foot  lameness. 

MECHANISM    OF    HOESES'    HOOPS. 

The  hoof  of  a  horse  is  considered  as  an  epidermic  appendage — 
similar  to  nails  and  claws  of  other  animals,  and  scales  of  fishes. 
They  are  produced,  in  the  first  instance,  by  the  growth  of  cells,  the 
contents  of  which  gradually  evaporate,  so  that  the  walls  of  the  same 
gradually  approximate  each  other. 

In  the  upper  part  of  the  hoof — near  its  matrix  (mother) — these 
cells  are  to  be  observed ;  they  are  somewhat  flattened  against  each 
Other,  but  still  retain  a  rounded  form. 

The  hoof,  nails  and  scales,  are  not  traversed  by  nutriment  vessels 
or  absorbents,  as  is  the  case  in  regard  to  the  sensitive  tissues ;  and 
the  flattened  cells,  when  fully  developed,  undergo  but  little  change. 
The  chemical  analysis  of  the  constituents  of  the  hoof  are  as  follows: 

Carbon 52  parts. 

Hydrogen 7      " 

Nitrogen 17      " 

Oxygen  and  Sulphur 24      " 

Total 100      " 


ESSAY  ON    SHOEING  HOKSES.  '137 


PKESSURB  ON  THE  FROG. 

Goodwin  says,  "  It  is  an  incontrovertible  fact  that  unless  the  frog 
receives  a  certain  degree  of  pressure,  it  will  degenerate  and  become 
incapable  of  affording  sufficient  protection  to  the  sensitive  frog, 
which  it  covers;  that  the  heels  will  gradually  contract;  that  the  bars 
alone  are  not  sufficient  to  prevent  the  same,  though  they  certainly 
oppose  it  with  considerable  force.  But  it  does  not  follow  from  this 
that  it  is  necessary  for  the  pressure  to  be  constant,  nor  is  it  believed 
that  a  shoe  which  allows  the  frog  to  bear  on  the  ground,  when  the 
horse  stands  upon  a  plane,  hard  surface,  can  be  always  applied  even  to 
sound  feet  without  inconvenience.  There  is  no  doubt  that  a  horse 
in  a  state  of  nature  has  his  frog  almost  always  in  contact  with  the 
ground,  and  then  of  course  he  feels  no  inconvenience  from  it ;  but 
when  burthens  are  placed  upon  his  back,  and  he  is  driven  about  on 
hard  roads,  he  is  certainly  in  very  different  circumstances,  and  if  the 
frog  in  such  cases  was  constantly  exposed  to  this  severe  pressure,  it 
would  no  doubt  occasion  lameness."  Still,  a  certain  amount  of  pres- 
sure is  absolutely  necessary,  for  unless  that  be  the  case,  descent  of 
the  sole  and  disease  of  the  laminae  is  apt  to  occur. 

SHOEING   OP   CAVALRY  HORSES. 

The  following  circular  has  just  been  issued  by  the  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral, British  army,  from  the  Horse  Guards : 

Sir  : — It  being  very  desirable  that  a  uniform  system  of  shoeing 
should  be  established  in  the  cavalry,  and  the  whole  of  that  important 
subject  having  been  recently  referred  to  the  consideration  of  a  Board 
composed  of  officers  of  great  experience  in  that  branch  of  the  ser- 
vice, assisted  by  two  old  and  experienced  professional  men,  the  Gen- 
eral Commanding  in  Chief  has  been  pleased  to  direct  that  the  follow- 
ing instructions,  extracted  from  their  Report,  and  which  embody  the 
whole  of  their  recommendations,  be  circulated  throughout  the  cav- 
alry, accompanied  by  duplicates  of  the  pattern  shoes,  which  have 
been  sealed  and  deposited  at  the  office  of  Military  Boards  for  gen- 
eral reference  and  guidance. 

1.  The  shoe  is  to  be  beveled  off,  so  as  to  leave  a  space  and  pre- 
vent pressure  to  the  sole. 

2.  It  is  not  to  be  grooved  or  fettered ;  but  simply  punched,  and 
the  nails  counter-sunk. 

3.  Calkin  is  to  be  applied  to  the  hind  shoe  only,  and  is  to  be  con- 
fined to  the  outside  heel.  The  inside  heel  is  to  be  thickened  in 
proportion. 

4.  The  weight  of  the  shoe  is  to  be  from  twelve  to  fifteen  ounces, 
according  to  the  size  of  the  horse. 

5.  As  a  general  principle,  horses  are  to  be  shod  with  not  less  than 
six  nails  in  the  fore  and  seven  in  the  hind  shoe  ;  nor  is  the  sole  to  be 
attached  with  not  fewer  than  three  nails  on  either  side. 

6.  In  preparing  the  foot  for  the  shoe,  as  little  as  possible  should 
be  pared  out,  and  the  operation  should  be  confined  to  the  removal  of 
the  exfoliating  parts  of  the  sole  only. 

7.  Both  the  fore  and  hind  shoes  are  to  be  made  with  a  single 
clip  at  the  toes. 


138  ESSAY   ON   SHOEING   HOKSES. 

Viscount  Hardinge  is  aware  that  peculiarities  in  the  form  and  na- 
ture of  particular  horses'  feet  will  cause  considerable  deviations  from 
these  instructions  in  isolated  cases ;  but,  in  making  this  communica- 
tion, I  am  directed  to  express  his  Lordship's  expectation,  that  in 
general,  the  shoeing  of  the  horses  of  the  regiment  under  your  com- 
mand may  be  executed  in  accordance  with  the  principles  herein 
recommended,  without  reference  to  previous  regimental  practice,  or 
to  the  preconceived  opinions  of  individuals  on  the  subject.  I  am 
only  further  to  desire  that,  at  the  end  of  three  months,  you  will  have 
the  goodness  to  transmit  to  this  department,  for  the  General  Com- 
manding in  Chief's  consideration,  a  report  of  your  opinion  as  to  the 
advantages  or  inconveniences  which  may  be  found  to  attend  the  in- 
troduction of  the  system  now  recommended. 

To  the  officer  commanding. 

In  view  of  giving  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  theory  and  art  of 
shoeing  horses  in  Scotland,  I  here  introduce  a  selection  from  the 
"Scottish  Farmer:" 

"  In  preparing  the  horse's  foot  to  be  shod,  the  requirement  in  the 
skill  of  the  operator  above  all  is,  that  he  shall  know  the  right  form 
and  required  bearing  surface  of  that  particular  foot ;  he  has,  in  fact, 
as  much  to  give  the  bearing  surface  to  the  foot,  as  he  will  afterwards 
have  to  adapt  the  shoe  to  it ;  the  foot-surface  and  that  of  the  iron 
shoe  to  be  applied  are  entirely  dependent  on  the  skill  and  under- 
standing of  the  shoer,  and  on  these  mainly  depends  the  success 
of  the  whole  process.  We  will  go  a  little  further  in  explanation : 
when  we  have  adjusted  the  foot,  whether  it  be  a  sound  or  an 
unsound  one,  we  proceed  to  adapt  our  shoe  accordingly,  and  if  the 
understanding  and  manual  skill  are  efficient,  the  shoe  will  be  brought 
to  the  foot  in  every  way  moulded  to  its  requirements.  In  approx- 
imating the  two  surfaces,  which  is  always  done  once  or  twice,  and, 
if  necessary,  more  frequently,  till  the  adaptation  is  complete,  we 
just  as  much  review  the  foot  as  we  do  the  shoe,  and  may  in  the  crit- 
ical process  with  as  much  propriety  file  away  a  little  hoof  as  we  may 
in  another  case  bend  the  iron  under  the  hammer.  In  either  case,  it 
is  necessarily  an  adaptation  of  surfxces ;  the  foot  in  the  first  part  of 
the  preparation  being  approj^iraately  finished,  as  the  shoe  when  first 
tried  is  the  same.  In  answer  to  the  question,  what  parts  of  the  hoof 
are  to  be  removed  ?  we  should  say  none^  only  so  far  as  is  necessary  to 
give  the  circumference  and  due  proportion  to  the  whole  hoof  This 
we  may  say  cannot  always  be  effected ;  unfortunately,  as  horses' 
feet  come  to  our  hands,  we  find  such  deficiency,  through  destruction 
of  parts,  and  not  unfrequently  a  general  debility  throughout  the 
whole  hoof,  that  we  can  only  make  the  best  use  of  what  remains. 

"Among  the  most  common  deteriorations  in  form,  under  the  pres- 
ent custom  of  shoeing,  is  a  low,  weak  state  of  the  hoof  across  the 
quarters — that  is,  taking  a  transverse  line  across  the  centre  of  the 
foot,  immediately  under  the  line  of  bearing.  This  low  and  weak 
state  proceeds  from  two  causes — first,  from  the  method  of  ])reparing 
the  feet;  secondly,  from  the  way  they  arc  shod,  so  that  the  iron 
gravitates,  nay,  is  often  converted  into  a  lever,  the  fulcrum  of  which 
is  in  that  centre,  alike  in  both  branches  of  the  shoe,  and  the  hoof  is 
worn,  or,  as  is  said,  ridden  down  by  the  pressure.     Another  com- 


ESSAY    ON    SHOEING    IIOESES.  139 

mon  defect  is  the  foot  being  higher  on  one  side  than  the  other,  and 
thus  every  part  of  the  foot  and  limb  is  thrown  out  of  its  natural  line 
of  bearing.     Then  we  have  many  dii-^turbances  in  the  line  of  obli- 
quity which  the  foot  in  its  natural  state  should  bear  to  the  limb ;  we 
find  variations  of  half  an  inch  or  an  inch  in  the  depth  of  the  heels, 
under  different  modes  of  preparing  tlie  foot,  and  a  similar  extreme 
at  the  point  constituting  what  is  called  length  or  shortening  of  the 
toe  ;  all  these,  which  nature  has  ordained  to  be  exact,  are  found  to 
vary  by  the  inch,  and  the  defects  are  variously  complicated  in   the 
same  foot.     To  know  how  to  prepare  the  foot  implies  an  understand- 
ing of  all  these  deviations.      We  may  be  asked,  are  there  no  parts 
of  the  foot  to  be  removed  and  others  to  be  conserved  besides  that 
which  comes  under  the  general  meaning  of  proportion  in  depth, 
breadth,  and  length  of  the  whole?     We  say,  no.     In  adjusting  the 
foot  we  have  to  deal  with  the  wall,  and  if  that  part  is  well  done  and 
the  foot  well  shod,  the  other  parts — viz.,  the  sole  and  frog — are  ne- 
cessarily taken  care  of;  though  the  horn  is  secreted  constantly  on 
those  parts  like  that  of  the  wall,  to  meet  the  wear,  the  process  oi 
detaching  is  different ;  the  sole  and  frog  detach  their  outer  layers  as 
they  become  superabundant.     When,  however,  as  is  commonly  the 
case,  the  foot  is  badly  prepared  and  badly  shod,  the  sole  may  be- 
come, as  it  does,  imprisoned  by  an  overlapping  of  the  wall,  and  want 
of  the  general  natural  functions  of  the  foot ;  then  the  process  of  ex- 
foliation may  be  interiupted  ;  the  proper  remedy  in  which  case  is  not 
to  hack  and  sink  holes  into  the  sole,  but  restore  the  balance  in  the 
whole  foot  by  removal  of  disturbing  causes.      The  instruments  at 
present  in  use  with  us,  for  preparing  the  horse's  foot,  are  of   the 
most  ill- adapted  kind;  and  here  Ave  are  prepared  to  be  met  by  the 
observation  that  a  good  workman  will  eff"ect  his  object  with  any 
tool;    it  would,  perhaps,  however,  be  more  correct  to  say  that  an 
able  artist  will  generally  devise  a  proper  instrument  to  effect  his  ob- 
ject.    Two  instruments  are  used  for  the  reduction  of  the  hoof,  the 
drawing-knife  and  rasp ;  these  are  both  of  modern  introduction  for 
that  purpose,  and,  as  applies  to  the  old  world,  they  are  confined  to 
our  country.     These  instruments  are  coeval  with  a  doctrine  of  shoe- 
ing which  has  prevailed  for  between  sixty  and  seventy  years ;  pre- 
vious to  that  time,  an  instrument  similar  to  that  in  use  up  to  the 
present  time  all  over  the  Continent,  called  a  butteris,  was  adopted  in 
Great  Britain.     To  the  late  Professor  Coleman  is  mainly  due  the  ab- 
olition of  the  butteris  and  substitution  of  the  drawing-knife.     The 
reason  assigned  was,  that  the  old  one  was  an  ungainly,  clumsy  tool, 
and  certainly,  to  perform  what  the  new  doctrine  in  shoeing  was  re- 
quiring, it  was  not  the  instrument.     It  was  laid  down  as  a  rule  that 
the  sole  was  to  be  cut  away  ;  that  it  was  to  be  pared  thin  every  time 
the  horse  was  shod  ;  that  there  were  certain  parts  called  bars  that 
were  to  be  preserved,  which  consisted  in  neither  more  nor  less  than 
a  carving  away  of  the  sole  almost  to  the  blood,  and  leaving  a  small 
ridge  at  each  angle,  between  which  the  hook  of  the  drawing-knife 
was  freely  used  to  scoop  out  what  was  called  the  seat  of  corn.     The 
little  drawing-knife,  bent  so  as  to  reach  to  every  crevice  and  angle 
of  the  foot,  was  just  the  destructive  instrument  to  do  such  work, 
but  was  in  no  way  adapted  to  adjust  a  foot  for  the  shoe  ;  indeed  no 
jne  ever  used  it,  or  does  so  now,  for  that  purpose.     The  rasp  is  used 


140  ESSAY    ON    SHOEING   HORSES. 

for  lowering  the  wall.  There  is  a  point  where  the  work  of  these  two 
instruments  meets  ;  the  little  crooked  knife  clears  away  and  destroys 
the  sole,  leaving  a  thin  edge  of  the  wall,  which  the  rasp  sweeps 
away.  A  rasp  or  file  was  long  in  use  with  us,  as  it  is  now  on  the 
Continent ;  but  little  use  is  made  of  it  there,  since  the  butteris,  a 
broad,  cutting  instrument,  gives  a  much  better  bearing  surface  to  the 
foot,  and  the  file  is  used  to  a  small  extent  only  in  finishing  the  work. 
We  may  give  some  notion  of  the  adaptation  of  the  old  instrument, 
the  butteris,  and  the  thorough  unfitness  of  the  drawing-knife  for  the 
same  office,  by  a  few  comparisons. 

"Every  one  knows  that  if  he  wants  to  form  an  exact  surface  or  line, 
tie  does  not  choose  a  very  small  instrument,  but  one  of  breadth  and 
length;  a  joiner  does  not  use  his  chisel,  but  his  long  plane,  to  strike 
a  plane,  smooth  surface ;  a  man  who  carves  handsomely  and  ecouom- 
.cally  a  joint  of  meat  does  not  take  his  pocket-knife,  but  one  with  a 
Droad,  well-adapted  blade  ;  a  man  who  cuts  leather  uses  a  broad  in- 
strument, and  he  can  do  it  with  exactness.  We  may  go  further, 
and  adduce  the  tailor's  large  shears  as  he  divides  his  broadcloth. 
The  fact  is,  the  little  instrument  makes  notches  and  holes,  destroys 
ind  weakens;  and  this  has  been  pre-eminently  the  case,  in  the  ap- 
plication of  the  drawing-knife  to  the  destruction  of  horses'  feet. 

"  We  will,  in  conclusion,  say  a  few  words  as  to  how  this  change  was 
effected.  To  abolish  an  instrument  from  the  land,  which  was  well- 
adapted  for  the  requirement,  and  to  introduce  into  general  applica- 
tion one  which  we  hold  to  be  ill-adapted,  seems  difficult  to  account 
for.  The  fact  is,  at  the  time  the  London  Veterinary  College  was 
Brst  established,  nearly  seventy  years  ago,  and  subsequently,  its 
Principal  was  able  to  carry  any  point,  almost  at  copimand  ;  the 
power  was  displayed  in  the  army,  through  which  changes  in  the  plan 
of  shoeing  were  rapidly  carried,  and  there  the  butteris  was  at  once 
aboUshed  and  the  drawing-knife  substituted ;  the  same  thing  followed 
through  all  the  principal  forges,  and  since  the  scooping  out  of  the 
foot  was  pronounced  to  be  a  requirement,  and  insisted  on,  compli- 
ance on  the  part  of  the  workmen  to  use  the  drawing-knife  was  the 
more  readily  exacted.  Subsequently,  the  rasp  manufacturer  adapted 
that  instrument,  so  that  instead  of  the  little  fine-cut  rasp  and  file  of 
the  former  times,  a  sharper,  rougher,  and  bigger  instrument  was  in- 
troduced, with  which  a  strong  man  could  reduce  the  hoof,  and  even 
destroy  it  with  a  very  few  sweeping  strokes.  How  we  are  to  get 
back  to  a  more  rational  system  than  now  prevails,  is  the  work  to 
which  we  have  put  our  shoulders." 


ADVEETISEMKNT3,  141 


CII?,CTJIi.A-I?,    OF    THE 

Academy  of  Veleiinary  Medicine  and  Surgefy, 

CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS. 

[an"  incorporated  institution.] 


The  object  in  establishing  an  Academy  of  Veterinary  Mkdicine  and  Surgery 
in  this  city,  is  to  educate  persons  by  practical  and  clinical  teaching  for  the  practice 
of  Veterinary  Medicine  and  Surgery  on  all  the  inferior  orders  of  creation,  which  are 
the  subjects  of  derangements,  maladies,  and  accidents. 

The  necessity  for  an  institution  of  this  kind  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that  the 
husbandmen  of  this  and  other  States  are  the  owners  of  live  stock  to  an  immense 
amount  of  money ;  hence  have  great  interests  at  stake  in  the  welfare  and  treatment 
of  diseases  incidental  to  the  same. 

Hitherto  tho  means  for  education  in  Veterinary  art  and  science,  have  been  very 
limited,  and  a  vast  number  of  the  finest  stock  in  the  country  die  prematurely  ;  many 
of  them  of  unnecessary  diseases,  which  might  be  prevented  by  proper  attention  to 
the  laws  of  physiology,  and  the  rational  practice  of  Veterinary  science. 

The  Veterinary  schools  of  Europe  are  quite  numerous,  and  rank  high  in  public 
estimation  ;  they  are  fostered  by  governments,  associations  of  husbandmen,  and  pri- 
vate individuals ;  and  the  professional  attainments  of  the  graduates  of  such  schools 
command  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  world. 

The  study  and  pursuit  of  Veterinary  science  offers  a  new  professional  field  of  use- 
fulness and  emolument  for  the  young  men  of  this  country,  and  it  is  probable  that 
educated  VeteiiHiariana  will  soon  find  remunerative  employment  in  the  service  of  tbe 
Government 


Anatomy  and  Physiology, — The  Lectures  on  Anatomy  and  Physiology  will  be 
demonstrated  and  illustrated  by  Dissection,  and  by  means  of  diagrams,  skeletons,  and 
prepared  anaotmical  specimens. 

Theory  and  Practice  of  Veterinary  Medicine  and  Surgery. — Ample  means  for 
acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
and  Surgery,  occurs  in  the  practice  of  the  Principal  of  the  Academy,  and  the  same 
is  also  taught  through  the  medium  of  daily  Lectures  and  Recitations. 

Text  Books. — The  Text  Books  used  in  the  Academy  are  as  follows :  Anatomy 
AND  Physiology  :  Percival,  Blaine,  Dadd,  Carpenter.  Chemistry  and  Pharmacy  : 
Morton's  Manual  of  Pharmacy,  and  the  ordinaryT  ext  Books  of  the  Schools  of  Medi- 
cine. Materia  Medica:  Findlay,  Dunn,  Eclectic  and  United  States  Dispensatories. 
Theory  and  Practice  :  Blaine's  Outlines  of  the  Veterinary  Art,  Dadd  on  the  Treat- 
ment of  the  Diseases  of  Horses  and  Cattle,  Youatt  on  the  same  subjects,  and  Perci- 
val's  Hippopathology.  Veterinary  Jurisprudence:  Oliphant,  and  the  Revised 
Statutes  of  Illinois. 

REGULATIONS. — ^The  Regular  Session  of  this  Academy  lasts  during  a  period  of 
one  year  ;  each  student  is  required  to  attend  a  full  Session  ere  he  can  present  himself 
befoie  the  Board  of  Examiners  for  a  Diploma  of  Qualification. 

aEORG-E  H,  DADD,  Y.  S., 

Chicago,  HI. 


143  ADVERTISEMENTS. 


THE  Subscribers,  believing  that  a  great  necessity  exists  for  some  reliable  arti- 
cles for  the  treatment  of  diseases  peculiar  to  domesiic  animals,  after  many  years  of 
Investigation  and  much  expense,  are  now  prepared  to  offer  to  the  public  a  class  of 

latBi  AID  OlTTLi  MBHeiNiS 

that  may  be  relied  upon  as  superior  to  any  similar  preparations  ever  before  offered. 
They  are  prepared  from 

CAREFULLY  SELECTED  MATERIALS, 

that  many  years  of  scientific  research  and  practical  experience  have  found  to  be 
most  efficient  and  curative  for  the  diseases  and  complaints  for  which  they  are  recom- 
mended. 

Whenever  a  Horse  is  out  of  condition,  which  may  be  known  by  the  presence  of 
worms,  chronic  cough,  unthriftiness,  loss  of  appetite,  unhealthy  appearance  of  the 
skin  and  hair,  turbid  urine,  debility,  and  various  other  symptoms  well  known  to 
horse  men,  the 

MAG-NETIC   EQUINE   POWDERS 

are  a  sure  and  certain  remedy  ;  and  as  an  alterative  in  the  treatment  of  the  diseases 
of  HORSES  and  CATTLE,  these  Powders  stand  unrivalled.     The 

AMERICAN  MAGNETIC  EQUINE  LINIMENT 

is  an  infallible  remedy  for  the  treatment  of  the  various  forms  of  lameness  incidental 
to  man.  and  hca-ft.  It  has  been  used  a  long  time  in  view  of  mitigating  the  lameness 
acconipjinying  Splint,  Spavin,  RlngboyLC,  and  other  affections  of  like  character  to 
which  domestic  animals  are  liable,  and  in  the  treatment  of  rheumatic  affections  it  has 
givun  universal  satisfaction.  It  is  also  equally  applicable  to  the  treatoient  of  all  the 
various  forms  of  lameness  occurring  among  Cattle.     The 

AMERICAN  MAGNETIC  EQUINE  LOTION 

is  a  sovereign  remedy  for  the  treatment  of  all  the  various  diseases  of  the  Slcin,  Heeh, 
and  Hoofs,  occurring  among  Horses  or  Cattle ;  also  for  Itch,  Mange,  Ringbone,  Foot- 
Rot,  Grease,  and  various  other  affections  of  like  character.  It  is  also  very  useful  in 
the  treatment  of  wounds  and  galls. 

In  confirmation  of  the  above  facts,  we  would  subjoin  the  following  certificate  of 
Doctor  G.  H.  Dadd,  whose  well-earned  reputation  and  skill  in  his  profession  makes 
his  opinion  entitled  to  the  confidence  of  horse  owners,  and  those  who  have  the  care 
of  Horses  and  Cattle. 


CERTIFICATE. 

Chicago,  Jan.  1st,  1863. 

I  hereby  certify  that  I  have  examined  and  thoroughly  tested  in  my  practice 

the  articles  known  as  ^^ American  Magnetic  JEquine  Powders,"  '^American  Magnetic 
Eguitu  Liniment,"  and  ^'■American  Jfogrtetic  Equine  Lotion,"  prepared  by  Lord  & 
Smith,  of  Chicago,  111".  I  regard  them  as  preparations  of  gre.it  merit,  and  would 
cordially  recommend  them  as  being  prepiired  with  special  care,  from  reliable  reme- 
dies, ani  more  efficacious  for  the  treatment  of  the  various  diseases  for  which  they 
are  designed,  than  any  remedies  of  which  I  have  knowledge. 

GEO.  H.   DADD,    Veterinary  Surgeon, 
Author  of  "  Anatomy  and  Physiology  of  the  Horse,"  "  Modern  Horse  Doctor^"  tte. 

Principal  of  the  Chicago  Veterinary  School. 
We  would  ask  a  fair  trial  for  these  remedies,  believing  them  to  be  the  best  prep- 
arations of  the  kind  ever  before  offered  to  the  public. 

The  Trade  supplied  on  most  liberal  terms  by  the  Proprietors,  to  whom  all  orders 
ihoiUd  be  addressed.  LORD  &  SMITH, 

Wlidesale  Druggists,  23  Lake  Street,  Chicago,  HI, 


p.  p.  STEWART'S 


LARGE   OVEN,    AIR  TIGHT, 


EVERY  FAMILY  SHOULD  HAVE  ONE. 


0 
0 


H 
E 

3 


This  stove  has  taken  more  First  Premiums  than 
any  other  ever  manufactured. 

THERE  ARE  OVER  70,000  OF  THEM  1  USE  I 

For  Sale  in  all  the  Principal  Towns  tbronghont  the  North-west. 

ASK  FOR  THE  GENUINE  P.  P.  STEWART  STOVE 

FUIiliER,   WARREN   &  €0. 

53  State  St.,  Chicago,  111. 
FRY  <&  HOLIflES,  General  Agents. 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 

Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 

TuU:;  University 

200  Westboro  Road 

Nonh  Grafton,  MA  01536  ,^.  . 


